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85
ports ascertained the addresses of each passenger arriving from an
infected port, and these addresses were duly forwarded to the
Medical Officers of Health for the several districts.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Eight cases of Puerperal Fever were notified, one Poplar, six
Bromley, and one Bow. Of the Bromley cases one case was treated
in the Sick Asylum and three in the London Hospital.
Two deaths occurred from Puerperal Fever. One Bromley and
one Bow.
The London County Council called attention to a rule of the
Central Midwives Board that in certain circumstances a midwife
must decline to attend alone and must advise that a medical practitioner
be sent for. The London County Council pointed out
that in the majority of such cases the husband of the patient is too
poor to pay a reasonable fee, and difficulty is experienced in
speedily obtaining medical assistance.
The Poor Law Guardians have powers to pay for medical and
other assistance in cases of accident, bodily casualty, and sudden
illness; and Borough Councils may, under the Public Health
(London) Act, with the consent of the Local Government Board,
provide a temporary supply of medicine and medical assistance to
the poorer inhabitants of the Borough.
The London County Council had addressed the Guardians and
the Borough Councils enquiring whether they would be prepared,
under the powers referred to, to pay fees of medical practitioners
summoned by a midwife in cases of difficulty or emergency and
are unable to obtain payment of their fees.