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80
A gratifying feature in the last year is the increased number of
expectant mothers attending at the Eastern Clinic. The number has
risen to 88, as compared with 62 in 1922 and 66 in 1921. The
attendances at the Western Clinic are keeping well up to the mark, so
that we have now arrived at a state of things, in Hampstead, where
nearly a quarter of the expectant mothers in each year are attending
the Pre-Maternity clinics.
One is also very glad to note that only one case of ophthalmia
neonatorum has been notified in the Borough in 1923, as compared
with 9 in 1922 and Bin 1921. I think that this happy condition of
affairs may be partly attributed to two causes:—
(a) To the routine application of a silver preparation to the eyes
of new born babies, by the midwife, immediately after birth,
in a large number of cases, e.g.:—in the midwifery practice
of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Nurses.
(b) To the preventive work that is being carried out at the Pre Maternity
clinics in this connection. Any suspicious cases
(where it is thought that the disease may occur in babies
after birth) have been referred to the Consulting Ante-Natal
Clinic at the Royal Free Hospital, for special tests to be made.
When, as a result of this, treatment is found to be necessary,
the case is referred to the Special Department at the same
Hospital. In this way I think that we have been able to save
at least 2 cases from occurring during the last year, and shall
probably find that two others have been saved in the near
future.
Blood tests have been carried out in conjunction with the Royal
Free Hospital in 22 cases, the specimens being taken at the Pre-
Maternity Clinic. By this means it has been possible to find 2 mothers
where a special form of treatment was indicated during pregnancy.
These women were referred to two different hospitals for the treatment,
and healthy children were subsequently born. In one of these cases a
series of still-births had preceded the birth of the healthy child. The
routine examination for pelvic contraction has been continuously
practised during the year. Two of the womon whom I had advised to
go into New End, so that induction of labour might be performed,
decided, after all, not to go there, but to have their confinements at
home instead. In both cases, difficult and instrumental labours resulted,
and one of the mothers lost her baby when it was a few hours old.