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56
Eight cases of Puerperal Fever and 11 of Puerperal Pyrexia
were notified. Twelve of these occurred in private practice, and
seven were notified from hospitals.
Maternal Deaths.
Much attention has been paid to the question of Maternal
Mortality, which in spite of all efforts, has not appreciably
diminished. Full particulars of each maternal death are now
entered on special Forms and reported to the Ministry of Health,
and it is hoped by this means that new factors will be brought
to light.
During the year 1928, seven deaths in connection with
turition occurred to East Ham cases as follows:—
Puerperal septicaemia 2
Abortion 1
Pulmonary embolism 2
Post-partum haemorrhage 1
Shock 1
In addition to these there were four deaths due to diseases
associated with childbirth.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum (i.e., inflammation of the eyes of
new-born babies) has in past years been terribly injurious to the
sight of infants who contracted it, frequently leaving them permanently
blind; and every effort is now made to control and
eradicate this disease, under Regulations for its notification that
came into force in October, 1926. Any doctor attending such
a case is required to notify to the Medical Officer of Health. A
midwife meeting the case of an infant having discharging eyes is
required to summon a doctor, who then becomes responsible for
notification, if he diagnose this disease. The information is
passed by the Medical Officer of Health to the Medical Officer of
the Child Welfare Department, and she keeps the case under
observation, directly or through one of the Health Visitors.
During 1928, 12 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum were notified
in East Ham, visited and treated with no impairment of
vision, as shown:—