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
Battersea 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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33
Dr. Corsi reports—"No infant was born syphilitic in the Home
in 1928. All cases of syphilis were cases of latent syphilis except
one, which was one of gummatous neuritis of the ocular nerve.
Cases of latent syphilis can never be discharged as finally cured.
Ultimately, therefore, nearly all patients weary of attending the
Clinic and disappear or refuse to come. Most, however, have had
sufficient treatment to render it improbable that they will have
syphilitic offspring. Nor are they likely to be infective to others.
But it is highly desirable that patients be followed up by the
Health Visitor and advised to attend for treatment or advice as
long as possible."
Maternal Mortality.
During 1928, there were 7 deaths of women from diseases or
accidents of child-birth which is equivalent to a fatality rate of
2.55 per 1,000 births.
Four of these deaths occurred in St. James' Hospital, 2 in other hospitals, and 1 in a nursing institution outside London. The causes of death were certified as being:—
| Puerperal sepsis | 3 |
| Eclampsia | 3 |
| Spontaneous rupture of uterus | 1 |
Maternal Deaths in Child-birth (Puerperal Sepsis and other Causes).
| 1923. | 1924. | 1925. | 1926. | 1927. | Mean 1923-7 | 1928. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths from Puerperal Sepsis | - | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2.2 | 3 |
| Deaths from other causes connected with child-birth | 10 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 6.0 | 4 |
| Total Maternal Deaths con-nected with child-birth | 10 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8.2 | 7 |
| Rate per 1,000 births— | |||||||
| Puerperal Sepsis | - | 1.27 | 0.94 | 1.01 | .36 | 0.72 | 1.09 |
| Other Maternal deaths | 2.91 | 1.59 | 0.94 | 2.36 | 1.78 | 1.92 | 1.46 |
| Rate per 1,000 births all Ma-ternal deaths in child-birth | 2.91 | 2.86 | 1.88 | 3.37 | 2.14 | 2.63 | 2.55 |
| Rate per 1,000 population— | |||||||
| Puerperal Sepsis | - | .023 | .017 | .017 | .006 | .013 | .018 |
| Other Maternal deaths | .059 | .029 | .017 | .041 | .030 | .035 | .024 |
| Rate per 1,000 population all Maternal deaths in child-birth | .059 | .052 | .034 | .058 | .036 | .048 | .042 |
There has to be recorded a very slight rise in Maternal Mortality
during 1928, but an inspection of the above table shows that,
notwithstanding, the improvement in recent years has been maintained.