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
City of Westminster 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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34
Puerperal Fever.—4 cases were notified and 4 deaths occurred. All
cases were removed to hospital—2 of these cases were spinsters and 1 was
a widow.
The following table shows the number of births for the last five years, together with the number of cases of puerperal fever and deaths :—
| Year. | No. of births. | No. of cases. | Deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|
Puerperal Pyrexia.—15 cases occurred, 14 being removed to
hospitals. To the women concerned in the above 15 cases (9 were
married, 1 widow, and 5 single), 13 children were born; 3 cases arose
from miscarriage.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—7 cases occurred in 1931—2
males and 5 females. 4 were admitted to hospital and 3 treated
either at home or as out-patients of hospitals. In addition to these
notified cases, 13 cases of slight inflammation of the eyes came to the
knowledge of the Department. Facilities are afforded for the treatment
of this disease by the London County Council at St. Margaret's
Hospital, Kentish Town, N.W. Mothers are also admitted, and, if
necessary, receive treatment.
The Public Health (Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations, 1926.
These regulations have been in force since October, 1926, and under
them midwives are no longer obliged to notify, but they are obliged to
call qualified medical assistance to all cases of inflammation of the eyes.
If the medical practitioner considers the case one of ophthalmia neonatorum,
he must notify to the Medical Officer of Health.
The following details in tabular form are required by the Ministry of Health of the cases notified in 1931:—
| Cases. | Vision unimpaired. | Vision impaired. | Total blindness. | Deaths. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total. | Treated. | |||||
| At home. | In hospital. | |||||
| — | — | — | ||||