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Methods Adopted to Diminish the Mortality and
Permanent injury to Health in Certain Diseases.
Puerperal Fever. Fifteen of the 17 cases were removed to hospital;
there were seven deaths. Enquiry into the cases and circumstances
associated with the cases produced useful information. It is difficult
to prove the exact cause of any case of Puerperal Septicaemia, but
general causes or association of events and circumstances are known.
One can deduce that several of these cases were due to complicated
labour, and there is not wanting a doubt as to the skill exhibited at the
confinement in a few instances. Enquires proved that cleanliness of
lying-in room and the house was almost the invariable rule. Overcrowding
was present in one-third of the cases. The remedy for the
conditions is obvious. It is pathetic to find that case after case was
removed to hospital. Would it not be more sensible if all confinements
were carried out in Lying-in Hospitals and Maternity Homes, where
the most favourable conditions obtain. Any woman who is confined
at home in cramped surroundings has to take a bigger risk than one
confined in a nursing home. The following facts are eloquent, at
least to the medical reader.
Attended by, Nature of Delivery. Overcrowding. Condition
1. Midwife and Breech. Torn perineum No. 2 families Good
doctor
2. Do. Miscarriage at 3rd month Yes. 3 families Dirty
through fall from chair
3. Do. Twins. Retained placenta Yes. 5 rooms Good
and ruptured perineum 13 adults, 4
children