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26
PUERPERAL FEVER.
During the year six notifications were received of Puerperal
Fever, and five deaths occurred. Four of the cases had been
attended by Midwives and two by medical men. In all instances
where a Midwife had been in attendance the cases were reported
to the County Council, who have the supervision of these under
the Midwives Act of 1902.
In other cases instructions were given to the Nurse as to the
proper cleansing and disinfection to be carried out before any
fresh cases could be attended by her.
EPIDEMIC CEREBRO—SPINAL MENINGITIS
(SPOTTED FEVER).
During the early months of the year, in nearly every part of
the country, a large number of cases of this disease occurred and
in many places attained Epidemic prevalence.
In some districts this was temporarily added to the list of
compulsorily notifiable diseases, and although this course was not
adopted in the Borough, any suspicious cases were reported to me,
and I at once visited these patients.
The assistance of the Bacteriological Laboratory was made
full use of for the purpose of diagnosis, and in every suspicious
case, fluid taken from the Spinal Canal was examined for the
special micro-organism of this disease. I am pleased to report
that in no case was the specific germ found, but the great value of
the Laboratory was again demonstrated, as without the assistance
thus afforded, the nature of these cases might have remained
doubtful, and needless expenditure and inconvenience would have
been caused by unnecessary isolation.
ERYSIPELAS.
118 notifications were received, as compared with 145 during
the previous year.
Three deaths were registered from this disease.