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long as they confine themselves to their proper sphere, become a grave danger if they
attempt to usurp the functions of the midwife. Enquiries are made with the object
of discovering and preventing the abuse to which reference has just been made.
Under the Maternity and Child Welfare Section of this report particulars will be
given of the Council's scheme for ante-natal care and supervision. Of this scheme,
which includes the provision of sterilized maternity dressings upon the application
of the Doctor or Midwife, it may be said here that everything that is done by way of
caring for the health of the patient and assisting her to make the best possible arrangements
for her confinement lessens the risk of infection during the lying-in period.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
Puerperal pyrexia, as defined in the Public Health (Notification of Puerperal
Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926, means any febrile condition, other
than puerperal fever, occurring in a woman within 21 days after childbirth, or miscarriage,
in which a temperature of 100.4 Fahrenheit, or more, has been sustained
during a period of 24 hours or has recurred during that period.
Provision is made in these Regulations for consultations between the Doctor
notifying and obstetric specialists, and arrangements have been made with three
specialists whose names are included in the list of the staff at the beginning of this
report, to meet practitioners in consultation on these cases upon request.
During the year 24 cases were notified, of which 20 were removed to hospital.
Consultations with the specialists above referred to were held in two cases.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
This disease, the duty of notifying which was, under the Public Health (Ophthalmia
Neonatorum) Regulations, 1926, placed solely upon the medical practitioner in charge
of the case, consists of a purulent discharge from the eye of an infant occurring
within 21 days of birth.