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16
closely correlated with this fact and in no way connected
with the treatment the patient received at the
institution.
There can be no doubt that an appreciable
number of slight cases of puerperal infection escape
notification owing to the doctor in attendance not
considering the case to be severe enough to be classed
as " Puerperal Fever." In my opinion, any rise of
temperature or septic discharge from the uterus
following on child-birth should be notified as Puerperal
Fever unless cause can be shown to the contrary.
It is time the medical profession enlarged the
scope of the term " Puerperal Fever," and ceased to
restrict it to those cases which are complicated by
septicaemia and which consequently ofter have a fatal
issue.
It is to be regretted that the Legislature while
requiring the notification of Puerperal Fever has not
seen fit to define the condition.
Seven women died during the year from accidents
and disease incidental to pregnancy and parturition.
With the London Hospital and Bethnal Green
Hospital close at hand the Borough is well equipped
for dealing with the emergencies of child-birth. None
the less a number of women die every year from the
incidents of child-bearing, while considerable numbers
are permanently injured in health. This is the more
to be regretted since these deaths are almost all
preventible, if the mother had only had proper advice
during pregnancy when things were apparently going
on well. One of the important functions of Maternity