View report page

57
Puerperal Fever.—Seven cases of this disease were notified. Two were confined at home, were
subsequently removed to the North-Western Hospital, and recovered ; one was confined at home,
was subsequently removed to Queen Charlotte's Hospital, and recovered ; one was confined in
Paddington Hospital, and recovered ; one was confined in St. George's Hospital, and recovered ;
one was confined in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, and recovered ; and one was confined
in St. Mary Abbots Hospital, and died.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—Thirty cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified. Twenty-one occurred
in hospitals to which the patients had been removed prior to their confinements, and nine in the homes
of the patients. Of the nine confined at home, six were subsequently removed to hospital for treatment,
and the remaining three received attention in their own homes.
None of the notified cases of puerperal pyrexia proved fatal.
In 1926 the Ministry of Health issued the Public Health (Notification of Puerperal Fever and
Puerperal Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926, which provide for the more complete notification of all cases
of puerperal fever and puerperal pyrexia. In connection with these regulations the Minister of
Health issued Circular 722, which suggested that notification should be supplemented, when
necessary, by facilities for assistance in diagnosis and for the treatment of patients who are not able
to secure adequate treatment for themselves.
The council have appointed Dr. A. Morris Johns, a specialist at Queen Charlotte's Hospital,
to the position of consulting gynaecologist and obstetrician. For these services, Dr. Morris Johns
receives a fee of three guineas for each case attended by him on behalf of the council as gynaecologist
or obstetrician.
Malaria.—Five cases of this disease were notified, and investigations revealed that in each case
the disease had been contracted abroad.
Encephalitis Lethargica.—There were two cases reported in Kensington. The patients were
males aged 67 and 4| years. The cases were notified on the 30th September and 25th October, and
both are still under treatment.
Poliomyelitis and Polio-Encephalitis.—One case of poliomyelitis was notified to the public
health department. The patient was a male aged 3| years, who recovered after treatment at home.

Pneumonia and Influenzal Pneumonia.—There are many forms of pneumonia, but the only
kinds notifiable are acute primary pneumonia and influenzal pneumonia. One hundred and
thirty-six notifications were received, 97 patients being certified as suffering from acute primary
pneumonia and 39 from influenzal pneumonia.
The number of deaths from pneumonia was 122, and 31 deaths were certified to be due to
influenza.
Zymotic Enteritis or Summer Diarrhcea.—Fifty-nine cases of zymotic enteritis were notified,
and there were 55 deaths of children under the age of one year from diarrhcea or enteritis. Forty-five
of the deaths occurred amongst infants who had not been notified. In 1924 the borough council
adopted a scheme for the control and treatment of zymotic enteritis or summer diarrhcea. From
1924 until 1934, the scheme was in operation for the summer months only, but during the past
two years it operated from the 1st January to the 31st December.
The council retain the part-time services of Dr. Ronald Carter, who has made a special study
of zymotic enteritis. Dr. Carter pays periodical visits to the various infant welfare centres, where
he is consulted in reference to difficult cases. He also sees cases in their homes which are not
attended by other doctors.
The following is a report by Dr. Carter, giving particulars of cases of enteritis dealt with :—
Zymotic Enteritis Scheme, 1935.
Infective enteritis occurred in a few isolated cases in which the temperature was high, but the
majority of cases were caused by dietectic disorders and catarrhal conditions associated with nasal
catarrh as the primary cause, the intestines being affected secondarily ; a few cases were asosciated with
bronchial catarrh.
I attended 38 cases in their homes and paid 175 visits. I sent one case to hospital; it ultimately
developed pneumonia and died. This was the only death that occurred.
There were no cases with blood and mucus in the stools. I saw no cases of dysentery.
In a considerable number of young infants which were being fed on artificial food, the amount of
food given was excessive in relation to their age and weight. This was particularly so when dried milk
was given. In many instances great care had to be exercised in adjusting the diet to the child's
requirements.