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Hospital at which they could attend. Already this year (March, 1920) the above number lias been
exceeded, and there is a waiting list of approximately 50. Although an average of 12 cases are
operated on weekly, there is so far no evidence of the number on the waiting list diminishing.
Removal of tonsils and adenoids, though a matter of a few minutes to a skilled operator, sometimes
is followed by a fatal result. Fortunately nothing of that nature has to be reported here.
By referring to the deaths column in table No. 71, it will be seen that by far the greatest number
of deaths occur amongst children under 5 years of age, and that an extremely small number occur
amongst older patients—clearly proving how incapable children of tender years are of resisting the
effects of serious ailments, and the necessity there is for placing them under the best possible conditions,
both as regards the provision of hospitals and of skilled nursing, to enable, them to pull through.
As might be expected, all the children, whether under 5 years or of school age, who recoverd
from their ailments made rapid and practically uninterrupted convalescence. A generous acknowledgment
of the Council's wisdom in providing for their treatment, as well as a proof of the healthiness
of their surroundings whilst in hospital.
For the tables referring to children of school age, see Tables No. II. and IV. in the School Medical
Officer's report.
Adults.
By a resolution of the Council, dated September 23rd last, adults are admitted to the General
Wards of the hospital as from that date, a proviso being that their admission was in no way to preclude
the admission of Maternity cases or of children. As a matter of fact, a few cases of adults were actually
admitted prior to the date mentioned, on account of extreme urgency.
Table 81, submitted, gives in detail the nature of the complaints for which these patients were
admitted and the result.
Maternity Cases.
In no part of the hospital has the bed accommodation been so taxed as in this department.
Sixteen beds, plus one in the labour Ward, are all that so far has been provided. As each mother
remains in hospital for at least 14 days some idea may be formed of the difficulties to be overcome,'
more especially if the monthly admissions of mothers as in table 71 be kept in mind. During the
year it frequently happened that more than 17 mothers were in hospital at one time In this event
accommodation had to be found elsewhere in the hospital for the excess number, and this was done
by transferring those mothers who were well enough to sit up to another general ward, where they
completed their stay in the hospital. Occasionally it happened that the general ward was full, in
which case there was no alternative but to put up extra beds for the time being.
Altogether 239 pregnant women were admitted, and out of that number 217 were confined, 10
aborted and 12 proved not to be in labour.
As a result of the 217 confinements, 215 infants were born alive and 5 dead, there being included
in the former 1 case of triplets and 1 of twins. Of the 215 infants, 15 died as the result of prematurity
or congenital malformation or defect.
Caesarean Section for delivery of the child was performed in 4 instances, the mother surviving
in 3 cases and the infants in all. Forceps delivery was necessary in 8 cases only. Labour was induced
in 4 cases. Unfortunately four mothers died, one from Peritonitis, after abnormal labour; one from
Malignant Endocarditis; one from Gastric Ulcer and operation as above; one from Myocarditis and
Heart Failure.
Table No. 79, given, sets out the complications present in these 227 mothers, either before or
during labour or in the puerperium.
Before leaving this part of the report I think it is worthy of notice that except for the minor
ailments normally, one might say, present after confinements, the mothers made excellent recoveries
and that the much dreaded Puerperal Fever was conspicuous by its absence. Over and above, there
was no vestige of any outbreaks of infectious disease amongst these cases. This is a most satisfactory
state, and, I am of opinion, it reflects the greatest credit upon the nursing staff of the hospital, clearly
demonstrating the high standard of their skill and the thoroughness of their technique. It also explodes
the commonly held view that a recently confined woman is predisposed thereby to the commoner
infectious diseases, more particularly Scarlet Fever. In an experience of nearly 30 years infectious
work I have only seen 2 cases of this nature. Further, with regard to the complete absence of any
infectious outbreak amongst these 227 mothers you will remember that certain authorities have criticised
your arrangement by which infectious cases and maternity cases are treated in the same hospital,
but the record of the hospital and the absence from it of a single case of septic infection must prove
the error of their contention. Moreover, the visiting Obstetrical Surgeon, who has a wide experience
of the large London Maternity Hospitals, is of opinion that nothing could be more satisfactory than the
way in which these mothers recover. It is, consequently all the more strange that in spite of this