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Puerperal Pyrexia
During 1956, the number of cases of this disease notified
was one hundred and seventeen, of whom seventy-five were persons normally
resident outside the borough. Three of the cases occurred after home
confinements (one of these patients was subsequently moved to a hospital
outside Kensington for treatment.,) One patient fell ill at home and had
a miscarriage after admission to hospital. The remaining one hundred
and thirteen cases occurred in hospital.
In order to show some perspective in reviewing this disease
(defined as any febrile condition occurring in a woman in whom a
temperature of 100.4°F or more has occurred within fourteen days after
childbirth or miscarriage), the following table sets out an analysis of
the causes of pyrexia in 1956 :-
Cause Number of cases
Flushed breast, breast abcess, mastitis 13
Respiratory infections:-
Influenza 3
Coryza 2 5
Urinary infection 15
Cystitis 1
Pyrexia associated with abnormal delivery:-
Breech delivery 1
Haemorrhage 2
Forceps delivery 3
Retained chorion 1
Retained placenta 2
Caesarian section (including
2 associated with other causes
as follows:- 1 Pulmonary
Tuberculosis, 1 Urinary infection)
15 24
Uterine infection 14
Causes unknown after investigation 27
Not stated 18
In the case of the two patients nursed at home, it was found
that both had been attended by the same midwife and assistant. Further,
it was reported that the assistant had performed her duties although she
had a "bound finger." The circumstances were reported to the County
Medical Officer of Health.
In addition to the above one hundred and seventeen cases,
information was received concerning eighty-six patients normally resident
in Kensington, who were notified as suffering from puerperal pyrexia in
other London districts.
No deaths occurred under this heading.
Pneumonia
There are various forms of pneumonia, but the only types
notifiable are (i) acute primary and (ii) acute influenzal pneumonias.
During the year, sixty-five notifications were received, fifty-two being
acute primary pneumonia and thirteen being acute influenzal pneumonia.
Of the total, thirty-two cases were removed to hospital for treatment.
The number of deaths from pneumonia (all forms) was one hundred
and six, and the number of deaths from influenza was nine during 1956.
Dysentery
Eighty-eight cases of dysentery were notified during 1956, all
of which were bacillary in origin, the majority being due to Sonne
bacillus. Generally speaking the cases were of a mild type and there