London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1927
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1927
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During 1927, 634 cases were admitted to the Hospital as compared
with 625 cases in 1926, 560 cases in 1925 and 400 cases in 1924.
The services of the Consultant Obstetrician to the Hospital,
Dr. J. S. Fairbairn, M.D., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.P., Senior Obstetric
Physician to St. Thomas' Hospital (or his deputy, Dr. A. H.
Richardson, F.R.C.S.) are also available in cases of grave emergency.
It was found necessary to call in the services of the Consultant
Obstetrician in 12 cases during the year as compared with 10 cases
in 1926.
Particulars relating to the admissions during 1927 are set out
as follows:—
| Total number of cases admitted | 634 |
| Average duration of stay | 14 days |
| Number of cases delivered by midwives | 583 |
| Number of cases delivered by doctors | 44 |
Of the above cases, 7 patients were admitted for Ante-Natal
treatment prior to re-admission at a later date for confinement.
Number of cases in which medical aid was sought by the
midwife with reasons for requiring assistance:—
| (a) Ante-Natal. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accidental hemorrhage | 2 | Placenta previa | 2 |
| Albuminuria | 3 | Uterine inertia | 1 |
| Ante-partum hemorrhage | 1 | — | |
| Contracted pelvis | 3 | 30 | |
| Induction | 14 | ||
| Malpresentation | 4 | ||
| Adherent placenta | 5 | Retained placenta and | |
| Foetal distress | 3 | hemorrhage | 2 |
| Heart disease | 1 | Ruptured perineum | 28 |
| Prolapse of cord | 2 | — | |
| Prolonged labour | 23 | 64 | |
| (c) After Labour. | |||
| Rupture of perineum | 12 | Painful V.V | 2 |
| Influenza | 3 | Abdominal pain | 1 |
| Rise of temperature | 3 | Pain in breast | 2 |
| Boil on buttock | 1 | Pain in groin | 1 |
| Engorged breasts | 3 | B. coli in urin. | 1 |
| Eclamptic fits | 1 | — | |
| Pain in limb | 2 | 33 | |
| Pain in bladder | 1 | ||
| Vesical pain | 1 | ||