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
Holborn 1926
Report for the year 1926 of the Medical Officer of Health
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The following summary gives particulars of mothers referred for breast massage in 1926: —
| Number referred to Metropolitan Nursing Association | 16 |
| Lactation completely restored | 7 |
| Breast secretion re-established, but small bottle feeds required in addition to breast feeding | 3 |
| Massage quite unsuccessful | 5 |
| Child died (æt. 20 days) | 1 |
During the year the cases of diarrhœa occurring in children attending the Council's Centres were as follows: —
| 10, John Street. | Short's Gardens. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Simple diarrhœa | 28 cases | 6 cases. |
| 2. Ordinary summer diarrhœa | none | none. |
Stillbirths.
During 1926 there were 18 stillbirths in the district. Difficult labour was
responsible for 4 of these; of these 1 was due to contracted pelvis; in the remaining
3 enquiry did not elicit the determining factor.
Of the other 14, accidental hæmorrhage was the most likely cause of 1;
prematurity 1; in 7 cases the parent was unable to give any information which
could be used in assigning a probable cause; suffocation due to breech presentation
3; in the remaining 2 no information could be obtained.
Six of the 18 stillbirths occurred in the private practice of a doctor; 4 in the
extern practice of an institution; 7 in an institution and 1 in the practice of a
midwife.
The following table gives a summary of the information obtained as a result of enquiries respecting the circumstances of illegitimate babies in the year 1926 :
| Number of illegitimate births registered | 46 |
| Number respecting which enquiries were, made for further information | 42* |
| Lived with mothers who remained in parents' home | 4 |
| Lived with mothers who went out to work | 1 |
| Boarded out with foster mothers ... | 4 |
| Lived in Institution ... | 4 |
| Lived with both parents who lived together permanently | 6 |
| Died in early infancy ... | 6 |
| Stillborn | 1 |
| No information (gone away, etc.) ... | 16 |
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 79, viz., 38 women and 41 children; the number of
attendances 528 (women 378, children 150).
*Four were above standard for enquiry.