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Puerperal Pyrexia.
The definition of puerperal pyrexia was amended by the Puerperal
Pyrexia Regulations, 1951, to cover a rise of temperature of two degrees
of any duration within 14 days of childbirth or miscarriage. The effect
of this has been to increase substantially the number of notifications by
the inclusion of many cases with transient fever which were not previously
notifiable. As was to be expected therefore, the number of such nocifications
in 1951 increased, rising to 81 from 41 for the year before. All
but 3 were notified from St. Helier Hospital. Forty five were first
confinements and 19 were residents of Carshalton.
Food Poisoning.
Seven cases of food poisoning were notified, all single isolated cases
bearing no relation to one another as far as could be ascertained, either
in point of time or origin. In 6 the responsible infecting organism was
identified.—5 salmonella typhimurium and 1 salmonella enteritidis.
The vehicle of infection was not definitely determined in any instance
but there was reason to believe that the following commodities were
responsible in 5 of the cases:—
S. typhimurium—chicken salad, roast beef, iced lolly, colonial
egg.
S. enteritidis—luncheon meat.
All patients recovered.
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