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99
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
These Regulations came into operation on the 1st October, 1926,
and extend notification to Puerperal Pyrexia, which means "any febrile
condition (other than a condition which is required to be notified as
puerperal fever) occurring in a woman within 21 days after child-birth
or miscarriage in which a temperature of 100.4 deg. Fahrenheit (38 deg.
Centigrade) or more has been sustained during a period of 24 hours or
has recurred during that period."
Certifying practitioners, when notifying cases, are required to indicate,
inter alia, (a) whether they desire to have a second opinion on a
case; (6) to state if it is desired to have a bacteriological examination of
lochia or blood, etc.; or (c) if facilities are available for all necessary
treatment.
Puerperal Fever.
4 cases were notified, 1 of which proved fatal.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
11 cases were notified during 1927, none of which proved fatal. 7
of these occurred in Hospitals and 2 of the 4 cases which occurred at
home were removed to Hospitals. In 3 instances the infants were
still-born and 1 was a case of miscarriage.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Total cases notified by medical practitioners 7
„ „ midwives —
Number treated at home 1
„ in hospital 6
„ at hospital as out-patients —
Vision unimpaired 7
„ impaired —
Total Blindness —
Number of Deaths —
Of the 7 cases that occurred, 4 were first children, 1 was a second
child and 2 were third children. Both eyes were affected in 5 cases, and
the left eye only in 2 cases.
In 5 instances the babies were born in maternity hospitals, and 4
of the notifications were received direct from the hospitals. The 1 other
case was not notified from a maternity hospital, but by the Medical
Officer in charge of the Borough Council's Pre-Maternity Clinic.