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88
Unfortunately we sometimes get unqualified midwives
practising in the borough, and during the year information was
sent to the County Council concerning two such cases. Legal
proceedings were taken in one case, and the Council informed
me that:—
Mrs. G-was fined 8s. and 12s. costs.
Mrs. T.-was cautioned by letter, July 8th, 1912.
Each case of Puerperal Fever is carefully enquired into
by the Medical Officer of Health and the Health Visitor.
Disinfection has been carried out and every effort made to
prevent further cases.
In addition to the above the following section of the rules
of the Central Midwives. Board was rigorously enforced:—
. Whenever a midwife has been in attendance upon
a patient suffering from puerperal fever or from any other
illness supposed to be infectious, she must disinfect herself
and all her instruments and other appliances, to the satisfaction
of the local Sanitary Authority, and must have her
clothing thoroughly disinfected before going to another
labour. Unless otherwise directed by the supervising
authority, all washable clothing should be boiled, and
other clothing should be sent to be stoved (by the local
Sanitary Authority), and then exposed freely to the open
air for several days..
Every precaution was taken to prevent the disease being
conveyed to other women, and it is gratifying to remark that
much greater care is now taken by midwives in cleansing themselves
and their clothing and appliances than in previous years.
The keeping of temperature charts during the puerperal
period, as practised by the midwives, has proved of immense
benefit in helping to direct the attention of the midwife to the