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second opinion; bacteriological investigation, the provision of
trained nurses, or the admission of the patient to hospital.
The notification of puerperal pyrexia should go a long way
in doing away with the idea that fever during the puerperium is a
relatively unimportant incident, and should ensure the provision
of adequate nursing and treatment in hospital in the majority of
cases as soon as symptoms suggestive of septic infection become
manifest.
Arising out of the Regulations, the Council appointed your
Medical Officer of Health as consultant for a period of three
months should a second opinion be asked for under these
Regulations.
Previous to October, 1926, there were 15 cases of puerperal
fever notified. Since the above Regulations came into force two
further cases were reported and 6 cases of puerperal pyrexia.
7 cases of puerperal fever were treated in the Metropolitan
Asylums Board hospitals, 8 in St. Giles' Hospital, 1 in a General
Hospital, and 1 in a Private Nursing Home.
The puerperal pyrexia cases were treated as follows :—2 in
St. Giles' Hospital and 4 in the patients' own homes.
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
Measles.
This disease is not notifiable in Camberwell, but the London
County Council, through their school medical service, report to
the Medical Officers of Health all children stated to be suffering
from measles or are kept away from school by reason of this
disease existing in their homes.
Further information of cases is also obtained through the
Health Visitors and other agencies. By these methods we
obtained knowledge during the year of 1,836 cases. Measles was
responsible for 48 deaths during the year.
All known cases were visited by the Women Inspectors and
the parents advised as to the necessity of seeking medical advice.
Isolation as far as possible was recommended, and when necessary
the services of a district nurse were provided.
The policy of the Metropolitan Asylums Board to allocate,
in times of measles prevalence, a larger proportion of accommodation
than has been done in the past, should help to reduce the
high fatality of this disease arising from complications. A card
containing information as to what steps should be taken in the
event of measles or whooping cough occurring in the home is left
by the Health Visitors at every house from which a notification
of birth is received.
Whooping Cough
During the year 147 cases came to the knowledge of this
Department. There were 7 deaths