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62
"Puerperal Fever" is a somewhat lax term, and may
include many different diseases occurring in lying-in women,
e.g., peritonitis, metritis, pycemia,septiccemia,and saproemia.
A proper definition as to what ought to be included in the term
is much needed, and with a view to this being arranged the
Vestry at their meeting on December 22nd decided to
include within the term "puerperal fever" the following
diseases:—Septicoemia, pycemia, septic peritonitis, septic
metritis, and other acute septic inflammations of the pelvis,
occurring as the direct result of child-bed.
The few cases of puerperal fever (as notified) reflect
credit upon the treatment of puerperal women in Lambeth,
whether by medical men or by midwives, for it is a disease
entirely preventible—care and cleanliness alone being
required. The Medical Officer has only had occasion to
caution three midwives during the year, and in no single
instance has found it necessary to stop a midwife carrying
on her vocation, even for a limited period of time. The
old fashioned routine plan of stopping a midwife's work
for a period of six or eight weeks after a case of Puerperal
Fever is now discarded—it being considered sufficient for
thorough disinfection of clothes and person to be carried
out, and the ordinary precautions as to cleanliness taken.
There is no doubt but that a midwife (or medical man) who
neglects these simple precautionary measures is criminally
responsible for any deaths that may arise from such neglect.