London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Holborn 1926

Report for the year 1926 of the Medical Officer of Health

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Deaths of Children 1 to 5 Years, 1926.

Twenty-three children between the ages 1 to 5 years died from the following causes:—

Cause of Death.Ages.Tota1 1—5
1—22—33-44—5
M.F.M.FM.F.M.F..M.F.Both Sexes.
Measles11...1............123
Whooping Cough..................1...1...1
Diphtheria...12...............213
Tuberculosis (non-pulmonary)......1......1......1l2
Meningococcal Meningitis1.....................1...1
Pneumonia42......1.........527
Bronchitis...1..................11
Diarrhœa2..................2...2
Other Causes21...............213
Totals10631111115823
Totals—Both Sexes1642123

Infectious Diseases among Mothers and Children.
Puerperal Fever.
Three cases of puerperal fever and one case of puerperal pyrexia were notified
in 1926. Two patients died.
In the first case the disease followed the birth of the child in a women's
hospital; the patient made a good recovery.
The second case, which terminated fatally, was a married woman who had
had seven previous pregnancies. The confinement took place at home, the patient's
husband only being present. A doctor and a "handy woman" were afterwards
sent for. The patient was removed to a Poor Law Hospital, where she died four
clays after admission. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital to which the
patient was removed expressed the view that the disease arose from septic
absorption after miscarriage and retained placenta.
The third case, puerperal pyrexia, was notified in November and followed the
birth of a first child. The confinement took place in a Lying-in Hospital;
instruments were used, the patient made good recovery.
The fourth case, notified after correspondence, terminated fatally; death
occurred in a women's hospital to which the patient, a visitor newly landed from
Australia, had been removed from furnished apartments. The result of the
inquest held on this patient was a verdict of death due to procured abortion.