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1909. 1908. 1907.
August 16th 1 August 3rd 1 January 14th 2
November 1st ... 1 August 20th 1
Total 2 Total 1 Total 3
Deaths 1 Deaths 1 Deaths 2
It will be seen that the highest number of cases notified
in any year was 5, and it will also be seen how serious the
mortality is, considering that the total number notified during
this period was 12, and that during the same period 9 deaths
occurred. Owing to there being no facilities for treatment,
I am inclined to think that there is a hesitancy in notifying
Puerperal Fever in its early stages, and I think this is borne
out by the fact that in 1911 there were 2 deaths certified as
Puerperal Fever which were not notified. The mortality is
generally recognised to be about 50 per cent. of the cases,
and I think there is considerable probability that if facilities
were given for treatment, earlier notification of the disease,
together with skilled nursing, might do something to decrease
this terrible percentage of deaths. I cannot too strongly
emphasize the economic importance of attempting to save
these mothers, as we are all familiar with the difficulties which
arise amongst the poorer homes on the death of the mother,
where there is a family of young children."
During the preparation of this report 4 cases of Puerperal
Fever have occurred, in which the infection was traced to two
midwives, and these cases bring out more strongly than ever
the inconvenience and delay which occurs as a result of the
control of the midwives being in the hands of the County
Authority and not in those of the Borough Council.
Whooping Cough was the registered cause of death in
three instances, representing a death-rate of .05, as against
10 last year and 7 the previous year, with a death-rate of .17
and .12 respectively.
The deaths were distributed over the age periods as
follows:—
Under one year 1
One to five years 2
and they occurred in the following Wards:—
Dundonald 1
Trinity 1
South Park 1
I should again like to draw your attention to the heavy
mortality from Whooping Cough year by year, as will be
seen from the following figures, giving the respective deaths
during the last ten years from Whooping Cough, Scarlet
Fever, and Diphtheria.
18