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diagnosis rested on the evidence of clinical signs and a suspicious blood
specimen. However, in view of a history of T.A.B. inoculation two years
previously, which may have clouded the blood picture, this case may be
regarded as a doubtful one.
Puerperal Pyrexia
During 1957, the number of cases of this disease notified
was one hundred and twenty-three, of whom ninety-one were persons normally
resident outside the borough. Three of the cases occurred after home
confinements; the remaining one hundred and twenty 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 cause of pyrexia of the cases notified in 1957:-
Cause Number of cases
Flushed breast, breast abcess, mastitis 6
Respiratory infections:-
Chest infection 2
Influenza 3 5
Skin ulceration 1
Urinary infection 9
Cystitis 2
Pyrexia associated with abnormal delivery:-
Birth on way to hospital 1
Forceps delivery 2
Transfusion reaction 1
Caesarian section 9 13
Uterine infection 26
Causes unknown after investigation 43
Not stated 18
In addition to the above one hundred and twenty-three cases,
information was received concerning sixty-five 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 pneumonia.
During the year, seventy-five notifications were received, thirty-six being
acute primary pneumonia and thirty-nine being acute influenzal pneumonia.
Of the total, twenty-five cases were removed to hospital for treatment.
The number of deaths from pneumonia (all forms) was ninety-four,
and the number of deaths from influenza was fourteen during 1957.
Dysentery
Seventy-seven cases of dysentery were notified during 1957, all
except one of which were bacillary in origin, the majority being due to
Sonne bacillus. One case of ameobic dysentery occurred in a young woman
recently immigrated from the Far East. Generally speaking the cases were
of a mild type and there were no deaths.
Erysipelas
Seven cases were notified during the year; three were treated
at home, and four were admitted to hospital. There were no deaths.