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In addition to true purulent discharge, 8 cases of slight discharge from the eyes of infants reported
by midwives to the London County Council were referred to this Department and received attention,
no doubt preventing the onset of the more severe form of the disease.
During 1933, 2 cases were referred to the District Nursing Association, 49 visits being paid.
Nineteen cases of ophthalmia of the new-born were treated in hospitals as in-patients.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
There were 12 cases of puerperal fever notified during 1933, 10 of which were removed to or nursed
in a hospital. There is no difficulty in obtaining institutional treatment for women suffering from
this disease. Cases of puerperal fever referred to the London County Council are usually sent to the
North-Western Hospital, Hampstead, where a special ward is set aside for these cases and special
medical and nursing staffs are provided.
Excellent accommodation is also available at Queen Charlotte's Isolation Hospital, Hammersmith,
where 1 case received treatment during the year at a cost to the Council of £13 13s. 0d., of which sum
£1 10s. Od. was received from the patient.
Four deaths from the disease were recorded during the year.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
This condition is defined as:—
"Any febrile condition (other than a condition which is required to be notified as
puerperal fever) occurring in a woman within 21 days after childbirth or miscarriage in
which a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or more, has been sustained during a
period of 24 hours or has recurred during that period."
The febrile condition referred to in the above definition may be due to any cause, and it may
be to some cause quite independent of the puerperal condition. It may, however, be the precursor
of the more serious condition known as puerperal fever, and it is with this in view that the numerous
conditions comprised under the term puerperal pyrexia are made notifiable.
During the year 53 cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified, 49 of which occurred within or were
removed to institutions. One case was nursed in Queen Charlotte's Hospital Isolation Block, the
patient contributing £1 11s. 6d. towards the total cost of £3 3s. Od. incurred by the Council.
During the year the Council retained the services of Mr. Aleck W. Bourne, F.R.C.S. (England),
Obstetric Surgeon to Out-patients, St. Mary's Hospital, to act in a consultative capacity, for cases
of puerperal fever and puerperal pyrexia. Three requests for his assistance were made to the Council
during the year.
ERYSIPELAS.
Sixty-six (66) cases were notified, 40 of which occurred within or were removed to hospitals.
ACUTE POLIO-MYELITIS.
Three cases of this disease, otherwise known as Infantile Paralysis, were notified and received
treatment in hospital. Owing to the serious after-effects, such as deformities, which result from
this disease, much care is taken to keep in touch with all cases previously notified. Recent experience
tends to show that most of the cases notified by doctors receive all the necessary remedial treatment.
It is evident that the possibility of preventing the onset of serious deformities is now realised by
parents and doctors more than formerly.
ACUTE POLIO-ENCEPHALITIS.
No case of this disease, somewhat similar in its nature to the last-mentioned, was notified.
ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGICA.
No case of this disease was notified.