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FATATALITY IN CHILDBED
Accidents and Diseases of Pregnancy.—To a certain extent some increase in the number of
deaths from these causes is inevitable when the number of births shows a material increase, as
has already been recorded. During 1909-13 the deaths from these causes averaged 8 per
annum, the average falling in the war quinquennium to 4. In 1919 there were 4 deaths but
in 19.20 the number rose to 11. Taking the average for 1909-13 as the standard ( = 100) the
Index Numbers are—for 1914-18, 50 ; 1919, 50 ; and 1920, 137. If the average for 1914-18 be
taken as a standard, the following Numbers are obtained—1909-13, 200; 1919, 100; and 1920,
275.
Fatality in Childbed.—In the last Report the following observation occurs (p. 9):—
"The risks of parturition to the mothers appear to have increased slightly during the second
period," i.e., 1914-18. Comparisons between averages for a term of years and the totals for a
single year are apt to be misleading, but the figures given below appear to confirm the
conclusion above quoted.

Within the Borough the rates of fatality observed in the Wards varied greatly during the
two years, as will be seen from the appended tabulation. The rates for 1919 and 1920 must,
however, be received with caution, as all but four of them are derived from records of a single
death in the year.

Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
General Prevalence— In 1919 30 cases were notified and in 1920 29, but in the latter year
5 other cases of "stickiness" of the eyelids—the inflammation not being deemed sufficient to
constitute "ophthalmia"—were brought to the notice of the Department. During 1911-13 the
annual average was 25, and that during 1914-18 30, figures which indicate that more cases
have been reported each year since 1914. The annual totals will be found in Table III.,
Appendix. Attention may be directed at the exceptionally high total (51) recorded in 1914.
There does not appear to be any marked seasonal prevalence of this disease. During the
seven years 1914-20 210 cases have been notified, of which 57 were reported during the first
quarters of those years, 45 during the second, 60 during the third, and 48 during the fourth.
During that period the cases were equally divided between the sexes (105 of each) but as there
is always a varying excess of births of males, there was proportionately a slightly greater
incidence among females.
As will be seen from the appended tabulation the averages for all Wards except Westbourne
and Church were practically the same during 1914-18 and 1919-20. When, however, rates are
calculated on the births recorded some very striking differences are observed. For the Borough
the corresponding rates are— 1914-18, 12.13; 1919-20. 1029. There was, therefore, in the
Borough a slightly lower prevalence during the last two years than during the preceding
quinquennium.