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69
PUERPERAL FEVER AND PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
On October 1st, 1926, the Public Health (Notification of Puerperal
Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926, came into force.
These regulations require the notification of puerperal pyrexia
(according to the definition given in the regulations), in addition
to those cases previously notifiable as puerperal fever under the
Infectious Diseases Notification Act, 1899. In a circular accompanying
the Regulations, the Minister of Health urges local authorities
to exercise the powers conferred on them under the Maternity and
Child Welfare Act for provision of facilities for diagnosis, skilled
nursing at home, or institutional treatment, if in the opinion of the
medical practitioner in charge of the case any one of these is
necessary. In accordance with this direction, arrangements have
been made by the Council for nursing of the patient at home, or
in the isolation hospital as desired. In addition, Dr. A. Kennedy
has been engaged as consultant for those cases in which a second
opinion is required by the medical attendant.
Three cases of puerperal fever were notified as compared with
4 in 1925, two of which were admitted to the Isolation Hospital.
Two of the cases were attended by midwives. One case occurred in
the Municipal Maternity Ward. The patient was isolated immediately
on the onset of pyrexia, and no further cases occurred.
In addition to the cases of puerperal sepsis, one case of puerperal
pyrexia was notified. All the patients recovered.
No definite cause of infection was found in any of the cases,
although it was noted by the health visitors in the routine investigation,
that in three out of four patients foci of infection were
present before labour.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
One maternal death occurred during 1926, due to excessive
vomiting of pregnancy. There were no deaths from puerperal
sepsis. The puerperal mortality for the year is therefore the same
as for 1925, 1.3 per thousand, and continues to be much below the
average for England and Wales, viz., 3.06 for 1925.