London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Islington 1929

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]

This page requires JavaScript

13 [1929
Opportunity was taken of the facilities afforded by the Metropolitan Asylums
Board as mentioned in last year's report, p. 14, and also enquiries were made
where the London County Council had taken swabs from a midwife.
Case which died of Puerperal Septicaemia.—A throat swab taken from
the " handy woman " revealed haemolytic streptococci.
i
Non-fatal cases.—In connection with a case odcurring in a Nursing
Home, the Supervising Authority had a series of swabs taken from the finger
and also from the tonsils of a nurse in attendance. On the first occasion that
from the finger was positive and also the tonsils, and the tonsils remained
positive on other two examinations made during the subsequent .fortnight.
On the fourth examination the tonsils were negative as regards haemolytic
streptococci. After this period the nurse ceased to practice as a midwife.
Examinations were made in other cases with negative results. In respect
of one Puerperal Fever case which recovered, swabs were taken from the midwife
in attendance on the patient and from the mother-in-law.
In another case, which also recovered, a swab was taken from the handywoman.
In this particular year in none of the cases of Puerperal Pyrexia was it
considered necessary to take swabs from the attendants.
PEMPHIGUS NEONATORUM.
During the year 1929, 8 cases which came to the knowledge of the Medical
Officer of Health were investigated.
THE MILK SCHEME FOR NECESSITOUS EXPECTANT AND NURSING
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE.
During the year 1929, the sum expended in the provision of fresh and dried
milk for necessitous, expectant and nursing- mothers, and children under five years
of age, amounted to £1,190 14s. 4½d., as against £1,702 14s. 2d. in 1928. The
total amount expended since the Order came into operation in 1918 is
£51,146 8s. 7½d.
The total recipients during the year numbered 4,736, and the quantity of milk
supplied to them was equal to 87,964 pints (10,995½ gallons).
DISTRIBUTION OF MILK TO NECESSITOUS MOTHERS AND
CHILDREN.
A revised scale of income was adopted by the Council on the 18th May, 1928,
upon the recommendation of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, in view
of a reduction of £486 on the Council's estimate of the cost of supplying Milk
during the year 1928-29, by the Ministry of Heatlh.
The amended scheme which has been in operation since the 1st July, 1928, is
as follows:—