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
Ilford 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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84
The average number of patients in the Home per day during
1923 was 7.97, and the average length of stay of patients 14.37
days.
Of the 205 cases admitted during 1923, 202 were confined in
the Home, 3 were admitted as cases of inevitable abortion.
Of the 202 confinements, 71 women had engaged their own
doctor, and 131 were attended by one of the midwives at the
Home.
It was necessary to call in a doctor in 47 of the latter cases, owing to the following complications:—
| (a) Ante-natal | 9 | History of premature labour | 1 |
| History of abdominal operation (uterine) | 2 | ||
| Marked anæmia | 1 | ||
| History of difficult labours | 3 | ||
| History of puerperal mania | 1 | ||
| History of inflammation of veins | 1 | ||
| (b) During labour | 18 | Prolonged labour | 8 |
| Multiple growth on labia ... | 1 | ||
| Ruptured perineum before delivery | 1 | ||
| Foetal distress | 1 | ||
| Rupture of membranes 10 days before delivery | 1 | ||
| (c) After labour | 17 | Vaginal discharge | 3 |
| High temperature on admission | 2 | ||
| Foot presentation | 1 | ||
| Retained chorion | 2 | ||
| Persistent red lochia | 2 | ||
| Adherent placenta | 4 | ||
| (rf) For infant | 3 | Ruptured perineum | 9 |
| Stillbirth | 1 | ||
| Debility | 2 |
21 children were circumcised in the Home.
In 2 cases twilight sleep was administered.
There were 3 deaths of infants in the Home:—
One died owing to white asphyxia, artificial respiration having
been tried for 2 hours 20 minutes, and the breathing
partially established. The child lived for 16 hours.