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Puerperal Pyrexia and Puerperal Fever.
During the year 39 cases of puerperal pyrexia, and 14 oases of
puerperal fever were notified. In two cases the diagnosis of puerperal
pyrexia was subsequently amended by hospital Medical
Superintendents to puerperal fever. Except in 3 instances all these
patients reported as suffering from puerperal pyrexia were treated in
hospital. Every patient notified as suffering from puerperal fever
received institutional treatment.
Two patients notified as suffering from puerperal pyrexia subsequently
died, the certified causes of death were as follows:—
1. 1(a) Lobar pneumonia (b) septic endometritis (following full
term labour).
2. Septicaemia following pregnancy. Multipara.
On the receipt of a notification of puerperal pyrexia or fever, the
home is visited and enquiries are made with a view of endeavouring
to ascertain the cause of the pyrexia.
Six cases of puerperal pyrexia and nine of puerperal fever
occurred in patients who were confined at home; the remaining
cases were reported following confinement in hospital.
No evidence was obtained bearing upon the relation between
cases of scarlet fever and puerperal fever.
Five deaths were certified to be due to puerperal sepsis.
It cannot be over-emphasised that hospital treatment at the
earliest stage of the disease increases the hope of recovery of patients
suffering from puerperal causes.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES NOT NOTIFIABLE IN
CAMBERWELL.
Measles.
The year 1934 was epidemic year and during the period January
to December 2,449 cases of measles were brought to the notice of the
Public Health Department, mainly through the agency of the School
authorities. These cases were visited by the health visitors with a
view of arranging for home nursing treatment or removal to hospital
of the patient in cases where such services were deemed to be necessary,
and for the purpose of offering advice to parents as to the
means of preventing the spread of the disease to younger members of
the family, especially children under five —an age period during
which measles is likely to be a dangerous disease.
The number of patients who were removed to hospitals of the
London County Council was 374, and in 51 instances nursing assistance
was provided. There were 30 deaths during the year as
compared with 4 in 1933.