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51
At the beginning of the year there were 30 chronic cases on the
register, of whom 2 removed during the year. Two other cases,
not in the acute stage, were found by the Health Visiting staff
in the course of their duties, and there thus were 30 cases on the
register at the end of the year. When first notified or reported
22 of these cases were under 5 years of age, and in 1933, 3 were
over 16 years, 23 were of school age, and 4 under 5 years. Of the 23
school children 8 were scholars at elementary or secondary schools,
12 attended special schools for defective children, 2 were at
educational or cripple establishments outside London, and 1 was
not fit for school.
Seventeen of the 30 cases were receiving periodic treatment at
out-patient departments of various hospitals, 6 were receiving no
treatment, and 7 received in-patient treatment during the year.
One case of acute Polio-Encephalitis was notified during 1933,
which proved fatal.
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
Three cases of Puerperal Fever were notified in Battersea in
1933, as compared with 4 in 1932, 6 in 1931, 9 in 1930 and 4 in 1929.
No death occurred among the notified cases.
Four deaths were registered as due to this disease, of which two
occurred in Public Assistance Hospitals, one* in a general hospital,
and one at home. Two of these deaths were due to septicaemia
following abortion. Careful investigation was made in these four
cases in connection with the Government's enquiry into maternal
mortality (vide page 37), and the result forwarded to the Ministry
of Health. No notification of Puerperal Fever had been received
in any of these cases.
The number of notified cases per 1,000 births was 1.33, as
compared with 1.72 in 1932,2.42 in 1931, 3.39 in 1930, and 1.53 in
1929.
The case-mortality was 57 per cent. of the cases notified and
reported, and the death-rate per 1,000 births was 1.77.
There were 256 cases of Puerperal Fever notified in London
and 2,090 in England and Wales during 1933. A comparison of
the incidence of Puerperal Fever in London and Battersea will be
found on page 136.
The number of cases of Puerperal Pyrexia notified in Battersea
during 1933 was 14, and the incidence per 1,000 births was 6.19.
There were 842 cases of Puerperal Pyrexia notified in London
and 5,808 in England and Wales during the year.
Under the provisions of the Public Health (Notification of
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926, the
Council have appointed a consultant to assist medical practitioners
in the diagnosis of these diseases, and have provided facilities for the
bacteriological examination of discharges, &c., from patients, and
for the nursing of cases where required. Hospital accommodation
for the treatment of this disease is provided by the London County
Council in their North Western Hospital.
* This case was notified as one of Puerperal Pyrexia.