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88
" Light" Treatment.
The negotiations with the Hampstead General and North-West
London Hospital for providing artificial sunlight treatment for
Hampstead children were concluded during the year. On 11th June
the Minister of Health informed the Council that he would be prepared
to approve the proposal for artificial sunlight treatment of children
under 5 years of age, provided it be confined to cases of children
attending Infant Welfare Centres in the Borough or recommended for
treatment either by the Medical Officer of Health or the Medical Officer
of the Centre concerned. The fees to be paid to the Hospital were
subsequently agreed upon as follows :—
3s. 6d. per visit if one child attends.
2s. 0d. per child per visit if two children attend.
1s. 6d. „ „ three „
Is. 0d. „ „ four or more children attend.
It was estimated that an average of 12 visits would be necessary for
each patient, and that the number of patients to be dealt with would be
approximately 25 per annum.
The first child to be treated under this scheme attended on 14th
December, 1926, and up to the end of the year 2 patients had made a
total of 4 attendances for treatment.
Puerperal Feyer and Puerperal Pyrexia.
The Minister of Health, on 31st July, issued the Notification of
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations, 1926, which came
into operation on the 1st October.
Certifying practitioners are required to notify cases on prescribed
forms, and to indicate, inter alia, (a) whether they desire to have a
second opinion on a case ; (b) to state if it is desired to have a bacteriological
examination of lochia or blood, etc. ; or (c) if facilities are
available for all necessary treatment.
It will be noted that the new Regulations extend notification to
Puerperal Pyrexia, which means " any febrile condition (other than a
condition which is required to be notified as puerperal fever) occurring
in a woman within 21 days after child-birth or miscarriage in which a
temperature of 100.4 deg. Fahrenheit (38 deg. Centigrade) or more has
been sustained during a period of 24 hours or has recurred during that
period."
In the circular letter issued by the Ministry it is pointed out that,.