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SEPTIC DISEASES. 25
describing experiments made to determine the efficiency (qua sterilisation) of cooking of
mussels, cockles, &c. The results of the experiments may be briefly summed up by stating
that the mere boiling of such shellfish is insufficient to destroy dangerous micro-organisms.
For trade purposes the Company recommend steaming.
In the spring of last vear an outbreak of enteric fever on the Training Ship "Cornwall"
led to the discovery that a large number of condemned army blankets had been sold to
the public contrarv to rules of the War Office. Many of the blankets were dirty and
stained, some being probably "specificallv infected." Several cases of enteric fever were
attributed to the use of such blankets. A very large number were traced in various parts
of the country, and disinfected bv the local authorities. Some of the blankets were found
in Paddington, but no case of illness could be attributed to them.

The notifications of puerperal fever rose from 10 in 1901 to 14 in 1002 and fell to 3 in
1903, the smallest number on record for any vear, and 7 below the decennial average (equal
to a reduction of 70 per cent). In the Metropolis there was a decline from 312 cases in
1902 to 231 cases in 1903, the latter figure being 00 (or 21 per cent.) below the decennial
average.
Of the three cases reported 1 occurred in St. Mary's Sub-District in the first quarter,
and 2 (one each in St. Marv's and North-West Paddington Sub-Districts) in the third quarter.
The 2 cases in St. Mary's Sub-District were 6 (or 75 per cent.) below the average, the single
case in North-West Paddington being the same as the average. The disease was generally
less prevalent in the adjacent districts, all the rates given in Table 8 for last year being
lower than those for 1902, except in the case of Willesden, where the rate (per 1,000 persons)
rose from 0.00 in 1902 to 0.07 in 1903.
The prevalence of puerperal fever is, however, more correctlv measured by the proportions
to women of childbearing ages, and to births registered. These rates are given in
Table 20.

* Under this head fall "puerperal fever," "erysipelas" and "other septic diseases," the two first being scheduled
for notification.
† Rates per 1,000 females of childbearing age (15 to 45 years.)
‡ Per 100 cases notified.