Historical mortality rates of puerperal fever Monthly mortality rates for birthgiving women 1841-1849 Puerperal fever 
 mortality rates for birthgiving women at the first clinic at the 
 Vienna General Hospital 
 1841-1849 reported by 
 Semmelweis 
 . He devised and instituted a handwashing policy by mid-May 1847. His employment was terminated March 20, 1849

| Month_ | Births | Deaths | Rate_ | Sort_restore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | 224 | 6 | 2.7 | 42 |
| Jul | 206 | 9 | 4.4 | 43 |
| Aug | 269 | 17 | 6.3 | 44 |
| Sep | 245 | 3 | 1.2 | 45 |
| Okt | 248 | 8 | 3.2 | 46 |
| Nov | 245 | 27 | 11.0 | 47 |
| Dec | 256 | 27 | 10.5 | 48 |
| Jan | 303 | 23 | 7.6 | 49 |
| Feb | 274 | 13 | 4.7 | 50 |
| Mar | 292 | 13 | 4.5 | 51 |
| Apr | 260 | 11 | 4.2 | 52 |
| Maj | 296 | 13 | 4.4 | 53 |
| Jun | 280 | 20 | 7.1 | 54 |
| Jul | 245 | 15 | 6.1 | 55 |
| Aug | 251 | 9 | 3.6 | 56 |
| Sep | 237 | 25 | 10.5 | 57 |
| Okt | 283 | 42 | 14.8 | 58 |
| Nov | 265 | 29 | 10.9 | 59 |
| Dec | 267 | 28 | 10.5 | 60 |
| Jan | 336 | 45 | 13.4 | 61 |
| Feb | 293 | 53 | 18.1 | 62 |