VPRS 17391 Case Files, Infirmary Department

This completely new record keeping system appears to have begun in 1910 and succeeds the Honorary Physicians Case Books VPRS 17390. It is the beginning of a system of recording patients histories used, with modifications, throughout the 20th century and into the early 21st.Each patient's history and progress notes were recorded on pre-printed loose leaf pages and then bound into manilla folders annually and according to a diagnostic classification system. The classifications changed periodically and are inconsistent. There is no authoritative explanation of the codes, but they can be largely devised from the records.The files appear to be reasonably complete for the first few years (1910-1919). From 1919 the files were bound in annual volumes according to classification - not all classes have been retained during this period. From 1929-1935 only one class was retained - Class XII, Abortions. Note that these are spontaneous and induced, although it can be difficult to determine which.The Women's Hospital was a world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of puerperal infections at this time which makes this class of records highly significant.Series HistoryPrior to transfer to Public Record Office Victoria, the records in this series were maintained as part of the RWH Archives in RWH series number 0374.