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101
The number of new patients attending at the Kilburn Clinic
remains about the same as last year, whereas the number of those at the
Pond Street Clinic has increased somewhat.
The total number of new patients has increased from 285 in 1923
to 312 in 1924. As the net number of births in the Borough last year
was 1186, over a quarter of the expectant mothers in Hampstead have
attended the Clinics.
The number of infantile deaths occurring in the first month of life
has been 33 in 1924. These deaths are more or less attributable to
ante-natal causes. It is pleasing to record that in only three of these
cases had the mothers attended the ante-natal clinic beforehand. In
one of the cases the mother had whooping cough when the child was
born, and the child contracted it and died at 19 days of age. In another
case the child died of influenza and enteritis at three weeks, and in
another case it died of bronchitis and pneumonia. In one of the other
cases of death in the first month of life, where the mother had not been
for ante-natal treatment, I find that she had attended during a previous
pregnancy terminated by miscarriage. We had found, subsequently,
that certain treatment was indicated, after doing a blood test, and we
sent for her to come up to the Clinic; but she did not come.
In the case of one of the children who died at three months of
age, where the mother had attended the ante-natal clinic, I think that
'
possibly something might have been done to prevent it: but, by an
unfortunate oversight, a blood test had not been done, after a previous
pregnancy, where it was possibly indicated.
The cases of valvular heart disease have all been seen as often
as possible beforehand, and rest had been enjoined and treatment
given. They have all done well, up to date, as far as reports have been
received, with the exception of one case, in which auricular fibrillation
supervened. Before this, she had been resting at home as much as
possible by my orders, and the two children had been put into a hostel
so that she might not have too much to do; but, unfortunately, she had
much domestic worry, and one day at the Clinic she had an attack of
what seemed to be auricular fibrillation. It was arranged for her to go
into University College Hospital, where she was kept in bed for some
weeks before the child was born. Both mother and child are doing
well, up to date.
With regard to the seven cases of albuminuria, the amount of