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Association. Usually five practising Midwives are in residence in
addition to those under training.
With the exception of two, all the Midwives have been trained and
hold the Certificate of the Midwives Board or its equivalent.
The untrained Midwives undertake very few cases except under the
supervision of a doctor and their general conduct and practice were good.
An unregistered woman who "followed a doctor," discovered to have
attended some cases on her own account, was warned and she ceased
practising altogether.
All the Midwives have been regularly visited, and were found to comply
generally with the directions issued by the Midwives Board.
No fault was to be found with their habits as to cleanliness; and their
bags, registers and records were kept satisfactorily.
It is impossible to say if all comply strictly with their duties towards
the patient, as laid down by the Board, and investigations made to this
end are greatly resented by the Midwives.
One can only judge by results, and the number of ruptured perineums
occurring in the practice of certain Midwives, would point to '' hurrying
up" methods.
The small number of septic cases goes to show that general cleanliness
and care have been exercised by them.
Four Midwives were reported for failing to notify cases of Ophthalmia
and for neglect in its precautionary and early treatment.
The Midwives were severely censured by the Midwives Board, warned
and placed under probation for six months.
The disciplinary measures adopted were ample and the Midwives were
subsequently reported on favourably by me.
Of the total births, 1,373 were attended by Midwives.
Puerperal Fever.—There were seven cases notified during the
year.
Four of these had Doctors in attendance at confinement, and three,
Midwives only.
Six of the seven were removed to Hospital and three recovered.
Four deaths were registered as due to Puerperal Fever, and seven
others as due to "Accidents and Disease of Pregnancy and Parturition."