View report page

In 1956 four hundred and eighty five babies under the age
of one year were vaccinated. The percentage of 53.7 compares with
53.5 in 1955 and 54.3 in 1954.

Puerperal Pyrexia. Eleven cases were notified in 1956
compared with nineteen in 1955. The revised definition of
Puerperal Pyrexia in the puerperal Pyrexia Regulations, 1951,
made notifiable "any febrile condition occurring in a woman, in
whom a temperature of 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Centigrade) or more
has occurred within fourteen days after childbirth or miscarriage".
The early notification of puerperal Pyrexia is of primary
importance in the prevention of maternal mortality. Medical
practitioners should make the fullest use of the consultant,
bacteriological and hospital services and ensure the effective
isolation of any case of suspected infection occurring in a
maternity or nursing home.
Tetanus. A scheme for the immunisation of children against
Tetanus on request by parents was introduced in August, 1956.
The protection given by the primary course of injections of
Tetanus Toxoid is not permanent and should be reinforced at the
end of one year and thereafter within five year periods. The
objective is to reduce the risk, of mortality from tetanus and
to avoid the need for injection's of antitetanlc serum, to which
some people are allergic, as a prophylactic in cases where a
wound is possibly infected. Thirty seven children received
injections of Tetanus Toxoid in 1956.
Dysentery. Forty seven cases were notifled in 1956, compared
with five cases in 1955. All were of the Sonne type. Thirty
of the cases occurred in an institution for children. Of the
seventeen district cases five acquired infection outside the
Borough. Two were infected by a visitor from another district.
A group of three cases were infected by one carrier. Four carriers
were detected and treated.
36