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in which a temperature of 100.4 deg. Fahrenheit (38 deg.
Centigrade) or more has been sustained during a period
of 24 hours, or has recurred during that period."
Their object is to ensure the organisation of proper
measures for the prompt and effective treatment of a septic
puerperium. It was recognised that the number of notifications
would increase, and would include many cases relatively
trivial in degree, but the great importance of securing adequate
treatment in the early stages of puerperal infection was
regarded as outweighing any objection to the notification of
a certain amount of minor illness which gives no cause for
anxiety.
A copy of these regulations was sent to all medical
practitioners in the Borough with a supply of appropriate
forms, and the Council drew up a scheme for dealing with
the conditions which might arise and submitted it to the
Ministry for approval. At the end of the year the matter
was still being considered by the Ministry. As the Metropolitan
Asylums Board arranged to admit cases of puerperal
pyrexia into their hospitals, it was not necessary to consider
hospital provision for these cases, and so the scheme only
includes the following provisions:—
(a) The appointment of an obstetric specialist;
(b) Arrangements for the bacteriological examination of
lochia and blood; and
(c) The provision of nursing assistance.
The statistics relating to the incidence of puerperal fever
and of puerperal pyrexia are given in that part of the report
dealing with the prevalence and control of infectious diseases.
Feeding of Infants in Woolwich. The usual enquiry was
carried out in the month of June, and the results are very
similar to those obtained in the five previous years. Table
No. 72 shows the results of the enquiry.