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91
PUERPERAL FEVER
Two cases were notified, but there were no deaths from puerperal sepsis. The incidence was
equal to 1.003 per 1,000 of the registered births (live and still). Both cases occurred in Fulham
Hospital.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA
Twenty-five cases were notified during 1937, the same number as in the previous year.
incidence per 1,000 registered births (live and still) was 12.54 compared with 11.5.
CONSULTANT
The services of Mr. Alexander Galletly are available for the purpose of consultation with
private practitioners in cases of Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia and also for difficult obstetric
cases. During the year no request was made for his services.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM
During the year nineteen cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified compared with 13
during the previous year giving an attack rate of 9.8 per 1,000 of the registered live births. Through
an arrangement between the Borough Council and the Fulham District Nursing Association the
services of the District Nurses are available for cases which are under medical treatment in their
own homes. The following table shows the place of treatment and the result of the 19 cases:—
Cases notified 19
Treated at Home 11
Treated in Hospital 8
Vision Impaired -
Vision Unimpaired 12
Total Blindness -
Still under Treatment at the end of the year 2
Deaths 1
Left the Borough (condition not known) 4
EPIDEMIC DIARRHœA
This condition became very prevalent in London in the autumn, the causal organism, where
it could be recovered, being the Sonne type of dysentery bacillus. 104 cases in children under 5 years
of age were notified and, in addition, 57 cases at ages varying from 6 years to 71 years were reported
to me by medical practitioners at my special request. Specimens of faeces from 26 of the cases were
examined, the Sonne dysentery bacillus being discovered in 4 instances. The attack was sharp
in character, and the mortality appreciable ; 32 deaths occurred, giving a case mortality of 19.88. It
is a little tempting to speculate on the identity of this condition with the summer diarrhoea which
in the pre-war days was a regular and serious cause of infant mortality. Infective diseases do exhibit
a marked cyclical incidence and further experience will soon show whether the diarrhœal group is
again growing troublesome.
EPIDEMIC CATARRHAL JAUNDICE
Epidemics of catarrhal jaundice have appeared in various parts of the country in recent years.
The causative organism is not yet established but the condition appears to be distinct from that
found in miners and amongst workers in damp underground places, which is due to a spirochaete.
A very interesting outbreak which mainly affected the Fulham Day Nursery occurred in May,
1937. A probationer nurse was removed to the Western Fever Hospital on January 11th, suffering
from scarlet fever. During her convalescence she had an attack of jaundice, but there was no evidence
to suggest that this was infective. She was discharged from hospital on April 3rd and returned to
duty on April 13th.