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
Lewisham 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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8
Notified Births.
Under an Act of 1907, a birth must be notified to the Medical
Officer of Health within 36 hours. The information obtained in
this manner enables the Health Visitor to exercise supervision of the
mother and infant in the early days succeeding the confinement.
During the year notifications were received of 2,637 births.
Still-Births.
Notifications of 94 still-births were received, and details of these
are as follows:—
Total number notified 94
Out-of-Borough cases born in the Borough, and not
investigated 0
Borough Cases born outside the Borough 5
Number of Borough cases 85
Borough cases in which no enquiry could be made 10
The causes of still-birth in the 75 cases which were investigated were as follows:—
| Toxaemia | 18 |
| Ante-partum Haemorrhage:— | |
| Placenta Praevia | 3 |
| Accidental Haemorrhage | 2 |
| Delayed Labour | 2 |
| Difficult Instrumeutal Labour | 16 |
| 111 Health of Mother.. | 3 |
| Hydramnios | 2 |
| Fall | 2 |
| Shock | 1 |
| 6 | |
| Foot Presentation | 1 |
| Transverse Presentation | 3 |
| Monstrosity Inattention at Birth | 2 1 |
| 13 |
Marriages.
The number of marriages registered in the Borough during the
year was 1,726, compared with 1,580 in 1933. Of this number,
957 were solemnised in the Established Church, 200 in Non-conformist
Places of Worship, and 569 at the Register Office.