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64
Stillbirths.
During 1922 there were 12 stillbirths. Of these four were clue to difficult
labour; two were due to placenta prævia; one was due to malformation of foetus;
one case the cause was unknown; and four cases no information was available.
Of the four stillbirths due to difficult labour, in one there was breech
presentation, in another vertex presentation with strangulating cord, and two
were vertex presentation.
Four of the 12 stillbirths occurred in the practice of private doctors, three in
that of midwives, and four occured in the extern practice of a hospital; one child
was born in a nursing home.
Illegitimate Births.
An enquiry was made into the present circumstances of all the illegitimate
babies (62) whose birth was registered in 1922.
Ten lived with their mothers who remained in their parent's home; if in
these circumstances the mother has to go out to work the grandmother minds the
baby.
Four lived with their mothers who went out to work, the baby being in a
creche in the daytime.
Eleven were boarded out with foster-mothers.
One was in St. Faith's Home; the mother subsequently married.
Eighteen were living with both parents, who lived together permanently.
Three were known not to have returned from the hospital to the home address
given.
In 15 instances no information could be obtained; the majority of these
mothers who had entered a hospital or infirmary for the confinement and had not
returned to their previous address.
Of the above illegitimate children seven died. Of these three were living
with both parents, one lived with the mother who went to work, and in three
instances no information was obtainable.
In view of the high death rate among illegitimate babies it is regrettable that
so large a proportion of the babies born of Holborn unmarried mothers cannot be
visited so as to offer them the benefit of Child Welfare Schemes.
Suitable cases are referred with the consent of the client to St. Faith's Home,
or to the National Council for the Unmarried Mother and Her Child.
Dental Treatment.
A number of nursing and expectant mothers and young children were treated
at the Council's Dental Clinic held at 10, John Street. The number of new
patients during the year was 89, viz., 66 women and 23 children; the number of
attendances 302.
Assistance with Dentures, etc.
Extractions with local anæsthetic were made in 33 cases (27 women and 6
children) and with general anæsthetic in 44 cases, including 10 children. Fillings