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
Finsbury 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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The table below gives particulars of the stillbirths allocated to the Borough registered last year:—
| Males | 16 | ||
| Females | 19 | ||
| Males | 2 | ||
| Females | 1 | ||
| Total | 38=4.9% of total births. | ||
In 1937 the percentage was 3·4.
The stillbirths are investigated by the Assistant Medical Officer
of Health. The following reasons were ascertained as the cause:—
| Abnormalities of | |
|---|---|
| (a) Cord | 2 |
| (i) anencephaly | 2 |
| (ii) hydrocephaly | 1 |
| (iii) meningocele and spinabifida | 1 |
| Prematurity | 1 |
| 7 | |
| Abnormalities of | |
|---|---|
| (a) Labour | 3 |
| (b) Presentation | 6 |
| 2 | |
| (d) Placenta | 3 |
| Disproportion | 5 |
| Haemorrhage, accidental | 3 |
| Toxaemia | 3 |
| Unknown | 6 |
| 31 | |
Of the abnormal presentation cases four were breech and two
persistent occipito-posterior; in only one case was the state diagnosed
in the ante-natal period. Of the cases associated with uterine
abnormality, one was due to primary uterine inertia and one to
rupture through an old caesarian scar. Of the toxaemia cases, all
were recognised during the ante-natal period, two being treated in
hospital during this time. Of these one severe case of eclampsia
admitted at first attendance, caused a maternal death.
Of the unknown cases, one was associated with trauma (a severe
fall), one with the cord round the neck and precipitate labour, and
one with a history of a previous stillbirth. In three cases, no contributory
cause could be ascertained.