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37
Mr. Corsi reports as follows:—
During 1937 the Wassermann blood test was performed on 697
prospective mothers. Of these seven gave a full positive, and were
accordingly treated. Seven mothers gave an uncertain positive
result; it was considered that this did not call for treatment.
Of the seven treated, four were delivered of healthy looking babies,
whose certain escape from infection was subsequently proved by
blood examination. The remaining three mothers have either only
just come to term or are still "expecting " at the time of writing.
The cases dealt with this year were inclined to be psychologically
difficult subjects; fortunately there were no incidents. It is
interesting that after one or two visits this infantile type of patient
becomes the easiest of all to handle.
Number of W.R. tests 697
Number positive 7
Per cent. 1
Number treated 7
Babies.
Healthy negative 4
Not yet tested or not yet born 3
Still-born (so far) 0
Ambulance Service.
The ambulance service of the London County Council is
available at all hours for the conveyance of maternity cases to
hospital without charge, and patients entering the Borough
Maternity hospital make full use of the facilities provided.
Midwives.
So far as can be ascertained there were, immediately before
the coming into force (1st January, 1938) of the Midwives Act,
1936 only 9 registered midwives who resided in Battersea or
adjoining districts and practised in the Borough, apart from those
employed in the County or Borough Council's maternity services.
There were also the extern services of St. Thomas's and the General
Lying-in Hospitals.
Four Battersea midwives who had practised in the Borough for
many years surrendered their certificates under the provisions of
clause 5 of the Act. There then remained within the Borough
boundary only one private midwife and one maternity nursing home
employing three midwives, apart from those on the staff of the
Borough Maternity hospital and St. James's hospital.
Compensation.—In only one case was compensation paid to a
private midwife during 1937, this being in respect of a woman who
was removed to hospital on the order of a doctor called in by the
midwife at the confinement.