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1902]
100
PUERPERAL FEVER.
It is exceedingly gratifying to note that the group of complaints commonly
known as Puerperal or Child-bed Fever gave a return of only 19 cases,
compared with 34 in the previous year, and a decennial average of 29.
The attack-rate was 2.06 per 1,000 births, as against a decennial rate of
2.98 per 1,000.
Fatality.—The fatality was very high, as no less than 12 deaths, or 54.5
per cent. of the cases, occurred. Not one out of 4 cases in hospitals survived,
while of the 18 cases that arose at the homes of the patients, 8, or 44.4 per
cent., succumbed. Such a mortality as this is dreadful to contemplate. It
is, however, for a great part preventable, if only women, particularly in the
lower walks of life, would so arrange their surroundings that they might at
least be confined amidst comparative cleanliness, of rooms, clothing, bedding,
and person. During the year cases came under notice where the patients'
clothing was of the dirtiest, the bedding of the filthiest, and the rooms of the
most unclean description. Is it any wonder then that septic poisoning occurs,
and that lives, which should never have been endangered, are lost ?

* Three of these cases were subsequently heard of after death