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45
From this standpoint puerperal sapraemia might be notified as
puerperal fever, and often with advantage, especially where
students are concerned.
The term puerperal fever has long been removed from the
official nomenclature of diseases of the Royal College of Physicians
as vague and unnecessary. Unfortunately, it still lingers in the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
In the manual of the International List of Causes of Death,
issued by the Registrar General, puerperal fever includes 30 distinct
headings—puerperal pyrexia, puerperal sepsis, puerperal
sapraemia, puerperal lymphangitis, puerperal parametritis and
others.
These examples show the unsatisfactory nature of the present
circumstances, and indicate that the time is ripe for a clear
definition of what is meant by puerperal fever.
Meantime, those cases should certainly be notified—
1. Where the clinical symptoms suggest that the patient is
possibly suffering from septicaemia, whether the blood
culture is positive or negative.
2. Where there is infection of the uterus or genital passages
rendering it possible that anyone in attendance may be
a source of danger to other lying-in women.
In Finsbury, every case is investigated by the Lady Sanitary
Inspector. The premises are visited, the sanitary defects ascertained,
and made the subject of subsequent notice for amendment,
and the rooms are disinfected.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
This is the inflammation of the eyes which is apt to occur in the
newly-born, and is often associated with the presence of venereal
disease in the mother. Seven cases were notified in 1912. These
were all visited by the Lady Sanitary Inspector, who instructed
the mothers how to carry out the treatment advised by the doctors.