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26
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 puerperal fever.
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 end of this
report, to meet practitioners in consultation on these cases upon request.
During the year 17 cases were notified, of which 15 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.
If not properly treated, Ophthalmia Neonatorum may cause blindness or serious
impairment of vision. It is due to a gonorrheal infection of the child's eyes during
birth. Infection is nearly always from the genital tract and the mother should
accordingly also undergo treatment. Unfortunately, however, it is only possible to
arrange this in very few cases.
Cases.
Notified.
Treated
at home.
In Hospital.
Vision
unimpaired
Vision
impaired.
Total
blindness.
Deaths.
26
24
2
25
1
...
...
The case in which vision was impaired was one in which there was profuse
purulent discharge from both eyes. Ulcers developed in both corneas. The child
died at six months.