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Eighteen cases of puerperal fever were notified, compared with 9,
5 and 3 for the three years preceding.
The case mortality was 61 per cent. compared with 33.3 per cent.
for 1919 and 90 per cent. for 1918.
Should a case of Puerperal Fever be notified it is carefully enquired
into by the Medical Officer of Health and the Health Visitor. Disinfection
is carried out, and every effort made to prevent further cases.
In addition to the above the following section of the rules of the
Central Midwives' Board was rigorously enforced:—
"Whenever a midwife has been in attendance upon a patient
suffering from puerperal fever or from any other illness supposed to
be infectious, she must disinfect herself and all her instruments and
other appliances, to the satisfaction of the local Sanitary Authority,
and must have her clothing thoroughly disinfected before going to
another labour. Unless otherwise directed by the supervising
authority, all washable clothing should be boiled, and other clothing
should be sent to be stoved (by the local Sanitary Authority), and
then exposed freely to the open air for several days."
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Twenty-six cases were notified during the year, and were visited by
the Health Visitors. Twelve of the cases were in the East Ward, seven
in the North Ward, three in the North-West Ward and four in the
South-West Ward.
Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis, Acute Polio-Myelitis
or Polio-Encephalitis.
No cases of these diseases were notified in the borough, but we
have received notifications from the County Council of cases occurring
in other Metropolitan Boroughs.
Plague.
No case of plague occurred during the year.