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58
Maternal Mortality.
The number of deaths registered as due to puerperal sepsis
was 7 and due to other accidents and diseases of pregnancy
and parturition one; giving a maternal mortality rate of 3.45.
All the fatal cases of puerperal sepsis were admitted to an
institution for treatment. Two of them were cases of septicaemia
following an abortion. Two other eases followed apparently
normal deliveries. In the case of another patient delivery of the
child was normal, but manual removal of an adherent placenta
as necessitated. The sixth septic case was a patient delivered,
eforc the arrival of the attendant and suffered from postpartum
haemorrhage. The remaining case required operative
interference for the delivery'of a breech with extended legs.
Two maternal deaths occurred in the course of the year
forn causcs other than sepsis. One died of shock while under
anæthetic administered for a forceps delivery; 'the other was
due to shock and haemorrhage due to an adherent placenta.
Investigations into maternal mortality due ,to pregnancy and
child birth, as suggested by the Maternal Mortality Committee
the Ministry of Health, are carried out by the Medical Officer
of Health.
Puerperal Fever and Pyrexia.
Of the 8 notified cases of puerperal fever, two proved fatal.
One was treated entirely at home, one was a patient delivered
in hospital and a third was removed to the Isolation Hospital
suffering from Puerperal Scarlet Fever. The remainder were
admitted to Institutions for treatment.
Two cases followed a miscarriage of two to three months;
two instances were subsequent to operative interference, namely
manual removal of the placenta, transverse lie and twins. Two
cases followed apparently normal labours.
In the case of puerperal Scarlet Fever, the first sign was
a rash appearing on the lower part of abdomen on the 4th day.
This apparently disappeared but was followed two days later by
an crythema on the lower part of the chest. There was no sore
throat and the tongue was only slightly furred. Desquamation
subsquently occurred.