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19
nection with the scale of income which has been
approved by the Ministry of Health.
In addition to the milk given free or at a reduced
price, 25,764 lbs. of dried milk, value £2,556 19s. nd.,
were sold at cost price to persons recommended by the
Health Visitors or Welfare Centres.
Incidence of Infectious Disease among Parturient Women
and Infants.
Puerperal Fever.—Thirty-one cases of puerperal fever,
equal to 9·56 per 1,000 births, were notified, and of
these cases 8 died. Twenty-nine of the 31 cases were
removed to hospital. The number of cases of this
disease notified during 1921 was 27 with 6 deaths, so
that there has been an increase of 4 cases and 2 deaths
during the year. In addition to these, 4 deaths were
due to accidents of pregnancy and parturition as
compared with 7 during 1921.
In the report of my predecessor for 1921, it was stated
that the number of notified cases of puerperal fever
was higher in Fulham than in any other metropolitan
borough. For 1922, Fulham still has a much larger
number of cases than the average for the London
boroughs, and only one borough shows a larger number.
Arrangements were made during the year with the
Fulham Guardians, whereby medical practitioners can
send into the Fulham Infirmary suspected cases of
puerperal fever without waiting till the diagnosis is
absolutely certain. This enables such cases to be
brought under effective treatment at the earliest
possible moment, thus giving the patient the best
chance of recovery. It is a recognised fact that the
earlier such cases are thoroughly treated, which in
many instances is impossible in working-class houses,
the better the prognosis for the patient. It is hoped
that medical practitioners will avail themselves of this
arrangement, and that our mortality from puerperal
fever may be accordingly diminished.