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49
Dr. R. C. Townshend reports on the work of the
Maternity Clinic, as foLlows: —
Report on the Ante-Natal Clinic.
I am glad to be able to report an increase in the average
attendance during the year.
It is interesting to note that only two cases of instrumental
deliveries occurred in patients who attended the
Ante-Natal Clinic : in each case the patient was a primipara
and both mother and child made good recoveries.
With regard to the miscarriages, all occurred in multigravidac
and the patients were under medical supervision in
every case, either in institutions or at home under their own
doctor.
With regard to the stillbirths, it is difficult to assign a
definite cause in many cases, but the following points are
noteworthy. In one instance, the stillbirth was one of
twins; in another case, the mother worked as a tailoress
throughout her pregnancy; in one case there was a history
of ante-partum haemorrhage following a severe chill two
weeks before the stillbirth, and in two cases the patients
were suffering from severe anaemia.
With regard to the premature confinements, four
oocurred in multipara of 7, 8, 8 and 13 gravida, and in one
primipara there was a history of premature rupture of the
membranes four weeks before confinement.
With regard to the two cases of sterility, one patient
was referred to the Gynaecological Out-patient department at
hospital for treatment, and the other patient was attending
a hospital and was advised to report in six months.
I have to record the excellent co-operation between the
Borough Midwife and the Ante-Natal Clinic, and am glad
to report that there has been a definitely increased cooperation
between the local midwives and the Clinic. I
think this is largely due to the Council's scheme of providing
the midwives with forms for the medical report on
ante-natal conditions and granting a small fee for the midwife's
report on the confinement. In a few cases, it has
been found necessary to refer a midwife's case for hospital
treatment, but i,n all cases the midwife has been compensated
under the Council's scheme.
The Post-Natal Clinic has been held once a month, and
there was a slight decrease in the average attendance, which
we are convinced is due to the long interval between the