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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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50
Number of maternal deaths 1
Number of cases in which temperature rose above
100-4° F. for 24 hours with rise of pulse rate 11
Number of cases notified as Ophthalmia Neonatorum
with result of treatment 1
(Not cured. Permanent damage to eyes.)
Number of cases with discharge from eyes however
slight 9
Number of infants not entirely breast fed 6
Number of cases notified as puerperal sepsis Nil
Number of cases notified as puerperal pyrexia 11
Number of foetal deaths (13 still-born, 14 within
10 days of birth) and their causes 27
Still Birth-
Breech presentation 2
Macerated—albuminuria in
mother 3
Prematurity (I born before
arrival) 2
Mongolian 2
Ante-partum haemorrhage 2
Forceps delivery 2
13
Died within 10 days—
Congenital heart disease 4
Premature 7
Asphyxia pallida 2
Heart failure 1
14
The Consultant Obstetrician was called in in 14 cases of grave emergency, particulars of which are set out below:—
| Forceps delivery | 2 | Post eclamptic fits | 1 |
| Ante-partum hæmorrhage | 1 | Uterine inertia | 1 |
| Caesarean section | 5 | Albuminuria | 1 |
| Puerperal pyrexia | 3 |
Cost of Maternity Hospital.
I am indebted to the courtesy of the Borough Treasurer for
the following statement of the cost of the Home during the financial
year ended 31st March, 1931:—
Maternity Hospital, 1930-1931.
Total beds (excluding isolation beds), 29; total cases, 505.
number of weeks spent in Institution by such patients, 1,004.