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
St Pancras 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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Three of the patients were primiparae (i.e., women who had not previously borne children),
and 8 multiparae.
In one case "instruments" had been used at the confinement.
In no case was there any obvious source of infection in the house.
In the following table the cases are classified according to the manner in which the patients were attended in their confinements:—
| Confinement attended by | No. of cases of Puerperal Fever. | Total number of births notified. | No. of cases per 1,000 births. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors | 4 | 1,126 | 3.6 |
| Midwives from Institutions | 2 | 700 | 2.9 |
| Private Midwives | 2 | 969 | 20 |
| Medical Students | — | 977 | — |
| In Hospital | 2 | — | — |
In one case the mother had no skilled attention at the time of miscarriage, the doctor
not being called in until three days later.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
One hundred and one cases were notified in 1921, equal to 21-2 per 1,000 births—89 of
these were notified by medical practitioners, 7 by midwives and 5 by both.
Twelve of the cases were regarded as grave, 37 as moderate and 52 as slight. Five of the
cases have since died.
Twelve were illegitimate.
The cases are classified below according to the manner in which the mothers were attended at their confinement.
| Confinement attended by | No. of cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum. | Total number of births notified. | No. of cases per 1,000 births. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors | 15 | 1,126 | 13.3 |
| Midwives from Institutions | 25 | 700 | 35.7 |
| Private Midwives | 15 | 969 | 15.5 |
| Medical Students | 26 | 977 | 26.6 |
| In Hospitals and Institutions | 20 | - | - |
Every case was visited on the day of the receipt of notification. 15 cases were removed
to hospital, and 84 were treated at home, with the help of a visiting nurse in 59 cases. In two
other cases the patient was treated at home at first with the help of a visiting nurse and afterwards
removed to hospital.
The results of treatment were as follows:—
Complete recovery (3 of these afterwards died) 85
Blind
Sight damaged (4 gravely ; 1 slightly) 5
Died before recovery 2
Removed and lost trace of 9
It is interesting to note that in all the five cases in which the eyes were permanently
injured, either the Public Health Department had not been able to exercise early supervision,
or the advice given had not been followed. This will be seen from the following details:—
H.D.—Both eyes injured by opacities, and at 3½ months the sight was imperfect (after which
time the baby went abroad and is said to have improved). The mother was advised at the time of