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Puerperal Pyrexia
One case of puerperal pyrexia was notified during the year,
as against five during 1952. No deaths were attributable to puerperal
causes.
The great advances which have come about in safeguarding the
health, indeed the lives of mothers during and after child-birth will
be apparent in these figures, which may be taken as typical of the
situation over the past ten years. Many factors have contributed to
this satisfactory situation, including more specialised pre-natal care,
substantial advances in midwifery, the extended use of anti-biotics
and chemotherapy generally, and the many facilities now available
to women before, during and after child-birth.
Puerperal pyrexia which, not so many years ago, was an
extremely serious disease, has now been robbed of most of its
terrors. There is no reason to believe that the present happy situation
will not continue, or even be improved.
Smallpox
Once again, no case of smallpox occurred in Southgate during
the year. Indeed, for the first time in many years, not even one
doubtful rash was reported.
It is none the less a fact that the vaccination state in this country
is showing a deplorable decline. Because of this decline, the
Middlesex County Council now encourages us to carry out vaccination
of infants at our Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics, so
that mothers may have every opportunity of having their children
vaccinated with the minimum degree of inconvenience. This is
now being done in Southgate. and although it is too soon yet to
assess results, there is every reason to believe that the policy will
bear fruit.
I have also arranged to supply general practitioners with an
attractive show-card emphasising the value of vaccination and also,
incidentally, immunisation against diphtheria and pertussis. This
card will be offered to general practitioners for display in their
waiting rooms.
All the Area staff concerned, particularly Health Visitors,
have also been instructed to stress the need for vaccination at every
session and home visit.
Tuberculosis
Sixty-five cases of tuberculosis (61 pulmonary, four non-pulmonary)
were notified during the year, as against 79 in 1952. The
distribution of cases notified among the various wards during the
year was as follows:
North-East North-West Middle South
21 10 12 22
37