View report page

- 65 -
SMALLPOX
No case of Smallpox has been notified to the Public Health Department
as having occurred in the Borough since 1928, and there hare been no deaths
from this disease for oyer fifty years.
Information was received during the year regarding twelve contacts who
had travelled to addresses in the Borough, and all were given advice on the
precautionary action they should take.
POLIOMYELITIS
Eleven notifications of Poliomyelitis came to hand, and six of these
were subsequently confirmed; four of the cases were of a non-paralytic
type. One of the two paralytic cases, a male of 35 years died two days after
admission to hospital.
In 1954 there was one confirmed case, and in 1953 five confirmed cases.
WHOOPING COUGH
Eighty-five cases were notified during the year as against 93 in 1954.
All cases were under 15 years of age and there were no deaths.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA
Puerperal Pyrexia means any febrile condition in a woman in whom a
temperature of 100.4.0 Fahrenheit (38° Centigrade) or more has occurred
within fourteen days after childbirth or miscarriage.
Fifty-seven cases were notified during the year, of which only one ease
occurred at home, the remainder being in hospital. Forty-one of the hospital
notifications referred to patients residing outside the Borough.
The Puerperal Pyrexia (Amendment) legislations, 1954, which came into
operation on the 1st March this year prescribed a new form of certificate
for the notification of cases of puerperal pyrexia by medical practitioners.
The new form requires the cause of the disease, if known, to be stated.
Herewith is a brief summary of the actual causes in the above cases. 16
cases were due to genital tract infection, 14 to breast involvement, 10
urinary tract infection, 8 respiratory tract infection, 3 associated with
Caesarean section and causes not known 6.
Ten other cases were brought to the notice of this Department by other
local authorities; these concerned Chelsea residents whose confinements
took place in hospitals situated in their areas.