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74
Puerperal Fever is a preventable disease, and is caused
through want of care on the part of the nurse, or the medical
practitioner, attending upon a lying-in woman. 8,835 births
were registered in the Borough of Lambeth during 1905, and in
only 12 cases was Puerperal Fever notified—a most satisfactory
fact to be able to report. In each case enquiries were made, and
the Midwives (when in attendance) were visited at their homes,
their rooms (or houses) and clothes disinfected, and their other
cases (being attended at the time) followed up and watched for
periods varying from 2 to 3 weeks each. Four Midwives were
cautioned, but in no instance was it found necessary to take
legal action against any Midwife.
In London, during 1905, there were registered 183 deaths out
of a total of 291 cases of Puerperal Fever notified, giving a
case-mortality of 62.9 per cent. (uncorrected).
ERYSIPELAS.
During 1905, in the Borough of Lambeth, 287 cases of
Erysipelas were notified, and 15 deaths registered, giving a casemortality
of 5.2 per cent. Of the 287 cases, 87 were removed to
Hospital. The yearly averages for the 10 years (1891-1900) in
the Parish of Lambeth are (1) notified cases, 347; and (2)
deaths, 17.5.
During 1904, 251 cases were notified, and 14 deaths registered
from Erysipelas, within the Borough of Lambeth.
In London, during 1905, there were registered 2.26 deaths out
of a total of 4,987 cases of Erysipelas notified, giving a casemortality
of 4.5 per cent. (uncorrected).
The advantages from the notification of Erysipelas are few,
and the majority of cases notified as Erysipelas are not such as
were contemplated bv the framers of the Notification Act.
The details as to the incidence of the two diseases, Puerperal
Fever and Erysipelas, in the different Registration Sub-districts
of Lambeth Borough during 1905 are as follow:—