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she was taken directly to a hospital and. died there one hour after admission; the result of
the inquest held on this patient was a verdict of death from syncope, septicaemia, abortion
and septic infection of the uterus.
Case No. 4 (notified November 14th) terminated fatally. The disease followed an abortion
at the end of one month of pregnancy; at the onset of illness a doctor was called in who
ordered immediate removal to a hospital; the patient died there eight days later. The case
was notified as one of septicaemia following abortion.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
In a case (notified 6th January) the patient was confined in the hospital which she had
attended ante-natally. The patient was known to have been suspected) of tuberculosis prior
to her pregnancy, and soon after pyrexia had been notified she was also notified as having
tuberculosis. She remained some time in the hospital and subsequently attended the
Council's Tuberculosis Dispensary.
In cases notified February 14th, June 4th and November 14th, the condition was ascribed
to mastitis; in two of these the births occurred in hospital, the third in the patient's home.
The two former had both attended an ante-natal clinic.
In the case notified March 1st, the patient was removed to a M.A.B. hospital on account
ol puerperal pyrexia and soon after arrival there was diagnosed as suffering from scarlet
fever.
In the case notified April 26th, enquiry did not elicit any definite cause. The patient
has attended regularly at the Council's ante-natal Centre; the home conditions seemed entirely
satisfactory. The patient had a prolonged illness but refused removal to hospital. Advantage
was taken of the Council's arrangements to supply trained nurses in' such cases; the nurses
attended the patient for several weeks, part of the cost being recovered from the patient.
In the case notified August 11th, the patient was delivered of twins in a nursing home,
the doctor in attendance desired to have a second opinion on the case and advantage was
taken of the Council's facilities for supplying a consultant in such cases, half of the cost
of this consultation was borne by the patient. Parametritis was found.
In the ease notified June 26th, the patient was confined at home and removed to a
hospital of the M.A.B.; it was stated that prolonged and difficult labour and some degree
of mental derangement were responsible for the pyrexia.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
During the year 10 cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were brought to our
notice, 9 of which were notified in pursuance of the Public Health (Ophthalmia
Neonatorum) Regulations, 1914; 1 of the notifications was from a doctor in private
practice and 8 from the Medical Officers of institutions. Three of these notifications
were received as the result of correspondence, after the existence of the cases
had been brought to our notice.
In 1 case notification in accordance with the Regulations was not received;
information respecting this one came from the London County Council.
Unless each case is notified to the local Medical Officer of Health, the public
will be ignorant of the real extent of the disease; the whole of the cases cannot be
followed up to ascertain the amount of permanent damage done to the eyesight