[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Northampton County Borough.

Prevalance of, and control over, Infectious and other Diseases {continued) Puerperal Pyrexia. 54 notifications of puerperal pyrexia were received. The attack-rate per thousand total births was 32 0. Only 22 of these cases were residents of Northampton County Borough. All of the confinements had taken place in institutions and all the women were treated in hospital. (Due to efficient treatment now available these figures are merely of academic significance). Venereal Diseases. The Special Clinic for venereal diseases held General Hospital is under the administrative control of the Northampton and District Hospital Management Committee. The times at which the clinics are held at Northampton General Hospital are given on page 22. New cases from Northampton County Borough totalled 135 (10 syphilis, 41 gonorrhoea, and 84 other conditions). Comment is made concerning the 41 cases of gonorrhoea because since 1956, when there were 21 cases, a careful watch has been kept as stated in previous Reports concerning a gradual increase. Teenagers have received their share in the blame, but the following figures shew they are not wholly responsible:— MALES FEMALES TOTALS Teenagers. 1 3 4 20 to 29 years 17 4 21 30 years and over ... 13 3 16 Totals . 31 10 41 Eleven of these cases were commonwealth patients recently arrived in this country. Cancer. The number of cancer deaths in Northampton was 237 giving a local death-rate from this cause of 2-34; for England and Wales it was 2T6. A general increase in cancer deaths is noted (for details see case 16 and Table C). Bacteriology. All bacteriological work for the Health Department is done at the Public Health Laboratory, Northampton General Hospital. Disinfection. The number of disinfections carried out at the Disin¬ fecting Station, St. Andrew’s Road, was 16. These consisted mainly of rags for export and bedding.