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still carrying the disease, while one person developed scarlet fever after
nursing a relation with the disease at home.
Apart from this case, there were only 3 other instances in which
more than one member of the household was affected, one of these being
included in the 3 "Return Cases" previously referred to, while the others
either contracted the disease from a common source or from the primary
case before its removal to hospital. Once again the policy of home
treatment in cases in which reasonable isolation can be maintained has
proved justifiable, and might be more generally adopted in the District.
The disease remained mild in type, no deaths having resulted in
the last 5 years, compared with 5 in the preceding ten years.
ERYSIPELAS.
There were 14 notifications of erysipelas during the year as compared
with 12, 11 and 23 in the last three years. Of these, 8 were patients
in the Mental Hospitals, the remaining 6 being unconnected cases scattered
over the District, of which 2 were admitted to hospital.
No deaths occurred.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Five cases of puerperal fever and 2 of puerperal pyrexia were notified
during the year, as compared with an average of 1 case of each for the
past three years.
The increase was chiefly due to 4 cases of puerperal fever which
occurred in the practice of one midwife, who was found to be harbouring
the causal organisms (haemolytic streptococci), in her throat. Her
isolation was dealt with by the Surrey County Council as Supervising
Authority under the Midwives Act.
These 4 cases were transferred to Queen Charlotte's Hospital Isolation
Block, where they all recovered.
The other case of puerperal fever, which developed phlebitis, was
treated satisfactorily at the Wandle Valley Isolation Hospital. Unfortunately,
in addition, a resident contracted puerperal fever, which
terminated fatally, during her confinement outside the District.
The two cases of puerperal pyrexia, each due to pyelitis (one also
having pleurisy), both recovered satisfactorily, one being treated at
home and the other at Redhill County Hospital.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Only one case was notified, which did not require removal to Hospital,
the child recovering without impairment of vision.
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