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Puerperal Pyrexia. Twenty two cases were notified in 1959,
compared with twelve cases in 1958. Puerperal Pyrexia is "any
febrile condition occurring in a woman, in whom a temperature of
100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Centigrade) or more has occurred within
fourteen days after childbirth or miscarriage".
Tetanus. A scheme for the immunisation of children against
Tetanus on request by parents is in operation. The Tetanus
bacillus is present in horse manure and in manured land. Infection
enters the body through contaminated wounds and abrasions which
may be so slight as to escape notice. The object of immunisation
is to prepare the tissues in advance to resist the Tetanus
bacillus. All who work. in agriculture or in stables should be
immunised. Children are prone to abrasions and should be
protected from the incidental risk of infection. At present it
is a routine to inject anti-tetanic serum after wounds. This
serum occasionally causes undesirable allergic reactions and its
use can be avoided by precautionary immunisation with toxoid
before injury. Immunisation requires three injections at monthly
intervals. These can be combined with immunisation against
Diphtheria and Whooping Cough for children. Immunisation must be
sustained by reinforcement injection at the end of one year and
thereafter at intervals not exceeding five years. A record of
the dates of injection should always be carried on the person.
During 1959 nine hundred and ninety two children received primary
injections, and thirty five children received booster injections.
Food Poisoning. Fifteen cases were notified in 1959,
compared with three cases in 1958. Salmonella Typhimurium
caused six cases and Salmonella Newport one case.
In the remaining eight cases no organism was isolated. The
sources of infection were obscure.
The low incidence of infections due to Salmonellae and
Staphylococci in food is satisfactory. Prevention of infection
depends on scrupulous cleanliness in the production, storage,
manufacture and distribution of food. The washing of hands after
use of the W. C. is the most effective protective measure against
intestinal carriers of infection. Early notification of cases
of food poisoning is necessary so as to obtain the residue of
suspected food for bacteriological examination. No food handler
should ever be allowed to return to work without bacteriological
clearance.
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