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96
It is difficult to say after the event how any of these deaths could
have been prevented. Three of the cases were under the care of experts
before confinement and the deliveries occurred in hospital. The
remaining two were the direct result of abortion.
While it is a source of satisfaction to note the considerably fewer
deaths little emerges to show in what manner the scheme of the
local authority has exercised any influence in the reduction or what
steps it could have taken to prevent the five deaths of this year. As
regards the incidence of abortion, education at the Welfare Centres has,
no doubt, an influence in pointing out the evil and tremendous risks of
such a procedure. In regard to the general question of puerperal sepsis,
in the past it has often been customary to cast the blame on those who
attend the patient. More careful study is, however, revealing the fact
that the source of infection is sometimes lying dormant in the patient
herself and the disturbance to the constitution caused by a confinement
may be like the spark which causes the blaze.
Puerperal Fever.—There were 7 non-fatal cases which contrasts with
3 last year.
Three of them had their confinements in hospital; the remaining
four appear to have had fairly normal confinements except that stillborn
children were delivered in two. All seven cases made good recoveries.
Although the Council provides the services of an obstetric consultant,
bacteriologist and nursing facilities for puerperal conditions, these services
were not requisitioned as the cases in question were promptly removed
to hospital.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—A notifiable condition which includes any case
of temperature in the lying-in period reaching 100.4°F., which has
remained during a period of 24 hours or has recurred during that period.
Whilst the condition may not indicate puerperal sepsis, notification
furnishes an opportunity of dealing with the case at an early stage.
There were 12 cases (last year 21) 11 of which were removed to hospital
while one remained at home. All with one exception recovered. That
exception developed the graver condition of puerperal fever and is included
among the five deaths already reported.
The Widows' and Orphans' Contributory Pensions Act, 1925.—
The Local Authority may, in cases of desertion of a child or in the case
of an orphan, administer the payment on behalf of the child. No cases
have so far been reported to the Council.