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The form prescribed by the Central Midwives Board for notifying still-births provides for
information as to (a) sex of child, (b) period of gestation, (c) whether macerated or not, (d) presentation.
The information under (a) showed that 354 still-born children were males and 316 females,
and in 6 cases the sex was not stated.

Some additional information as to still-born infants was given by the midwife, and the
following particulars relating to unmacerated infants of 8 or more months' gestation was obtained:—
Infant one of twins 13 Cord decomposed 1
Hydrocephalic or malformed head 2 Syphilis 1
Child born before midwife arrived 8 Spina bifida 1
Abnormally large child 2 Injury to head 1
White asphyxia 4 Accident to mother—
Deformed infant 3 Ante partum haemorrhage 1
Marginal placenta 1 Uterine inertia 1
Death of mother or child.—Under the rules of the Central Midwives Board midwives are required
to give notice to the local supervising authority in all cases where the death of a mother or child
occurs before the arrival of a medical practitioner. In 33 cases midwives reported the deaths of
children, and in 5 cases notices of deaths of mothers were received. Inquests were held in all these
cases, and also in cases where a medical practitioner, though present prior to death, had not been in
attendance long enough to form any conclusion as to the nature of the illness.
By the courtesy of the London coroners, notices of inquests in which midwives are concerned
are sent to me, and one of the Council's inspectors is thus enabled to attend the court and hear the
evidence. Much useful information is gleaned in this way, and the Council's inspectors are able to
point out to the coroner any neglect on the part of the midwife to comply with the rules of the Central
Midwives Board, which might have some bearing on the case under consideration.

* In some cases the midwife, although not present at the birth, was able to state the presentation, and these
are classified accordingly.