London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Paddington 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
This page requires JavaScript
28
SEPTIC DISEASES.
Of the 8 deaths recorded, 0 belonged to St. Mary Sub-District and 2 St. John, the
pecennial averages being 4 and 0 respectively. The mortalities, calculated as in the statement
above, were:—
St. Mary. St. John.
Per 1,000 females aged 15-45 years 0.27 0.13
Per 1,000 births 3.16 5.29
The total mortality in childbed is measured by the sum of the deaths from "puerperal
fever," and from "diseases and accidents of parturition." Last year the total number of
deaths from these causes was 15, 2 more than in 1903 (13). One death was recorded from
North-West Paddington, 12 from St. Mary, and 2 from St. John. The mortalities were:—
St. Mary.
St. John.
North-West
Paddington.
Per 1,000 females aged 15-45 years 0.41 0.13 0.25
Per 1,000 births 4.75 5.29 2.54
The corresponding rates for last year for the Adjoining Districts are not at present
available. The data for the years 1901-03 have been extracted from the various Annual
Reports, and the rates based thereon are here submitted:—
Mortality ix Childbed. Per 1,000 births registered.
| Paddington. | London. | Kensington. | Westminster. | Marylebone. | Hampstead. | Willesden. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The inquiries made after notification again emphasise the dangers of unskilled nursing at
confinements. It is noticeable also that a considerable proportion of the attacks followed
first confinements, and others were associated with abortions and miscarriages.
I he following are summaries of the principal facts elicited:—
F. B., æt 23; married; first child; confinement attended by midwife; patient cared for by woman residing
in same house, untrained, and reported to be dirty in person and in her home. Fever set in on 3rd
day, but the case was not notified (through inadvertence) for a fortnight. Midwife attended other
women during the fortnight and had one other known case of puerperal fever in her practice. The
trained nurse subsequently called in informed the inspector that she found patient and her room
neglected, and accumulations of foul linen in the bedroom, and of refuse outside the bedroom door.
Animals were found kept in dirty conditions on the premises and in the yards of the adjacent houses.
F. S., æt. 28; married; first child; premature confinement; twins; laceration; attended by medical
practitioner and untrained nurse.
L. G., æt. 28; married; first child; dead child (6 months) removed under anaesthetic; trained nurse.
J. McV., æt. 40; married; 15th child; medical practitioner and untrained nurse; instruments used.