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The table shews the value of Ante-natal treatment for syphilis,
particularly in the case of one of the eight mothers with positive
Wasserman who were treated during pregnancy. She had previously
had two still-born children and no live birth; she now has
a healthy baby with negative Wasserman, although it was bom
prematurely after the 8th month.
The table further shews the value of the scheme started at
the end of 1923 of taking a routine Wasserman test from every
mother attending the ordinary Ante-natal clinics. It also shows
that the percentage of positive Wasserman in expectant mothers
in Battersea is much lower than the figure commonly supposed to
represent the incident of syphilis in the urban population, namely
about 10 per cent.
At the bottom of the table is inserted for comparison the fate
of the pregnancies of six mothers with positive Wassermans who,
for one reason or another, were not treated during their pregnancies.
It shews that out of four deliveries there was only one definitely
healthy child and one possibly healthy whose blood has not yet
been tested.
Special Ante-natal Clinics are held at the Out-patient Department
of the Borough Maternity Hospital on Tuesday and Wednesday
afternoons.
This development of the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme was begun in 1922. In 1924 the attendances increased to
such an extent that it was found necessary to hold an extra session
on Tuesdays.
The Session held on Tuesday, though not exclusively devoted
to the diagnosis and treatment of Venereal Disease, forms a very
important part of the scheme for the treatment of V.D. in pregnant
and post-parturient women. Dr. Bloomfield, who is in charge,
reports:—
This Clinic is held—
A.—For the purpose of taking specimens for routine
Wasserman blood test. These specimens until a few
months ago were also taken at one of the ordinary Antenatal
Clinics, but the pressure of work in the latter Clinics
rendered it necessary to refer practically all patients for
their blood test to the Maternity Hospital Clinic.
In 1925, 653 routine tests were taken, of which 266
were taken at the "Special" Clinic, but the percentage
of these latter will be much higher in 1926.
In 653 cases, 37 gave positive results among whom
were 14 expectant mothers.