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
Islington 1922
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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17
[1922
Deaths.— One case was certified, as due to Ophthalmia Neonatorum and also Enteritis,
but the Doctor who signed the certificate reported in writing to the Medical Officer of
Health that the eyes were clear before death.
In one case of Ophthalmia Neonatorum, notified by a private practitioner, the mother
had removed into Islington to be confined at her relative's home.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
Definition.— The Royal College of Physicians' definition of Puerperal Fever is:
Septicemia, Pyæmia, Septic Peritonitis, Septic Metritis, and other acute septic
inflammation in the pelvis occurring as the direct result of child-birth.
34 cases were notified in 1921, and 20 during the current year, being in the proportion
of 2 66 per 1,000 births. The notifications were 3 below the average (23) of the preceding
10 years, and showed a decrease of 0.47 in the proportion of attacks to 1,000 births.
Cases of Puerperal Fever notified and inquired into during the year 1922.
| Tufnell. | Upper Hollo-way. | Toll-ington. | Lower Hollo-way. | Highbury. | Barns-bury. | South East | The Borough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases notified | - | 1 | 5 | - | 1 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| Private Practitioners' Cases | — | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | — | 3* | 7 |
| Hospital Cases | — | — | — | —- | — | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Certified Midwives' Cases. | — | — | 3 | - | — | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Cases inquired into | — | 1 | 5 | - | 1 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| Cases treated in Hospital | — | 1 | 5 | - | 1 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
| Cases treated at Home | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
* There was one case which occurred after a reported "6 months' abortion"—no Still-birth was
notified—therefore, it is questionable, whether this case comes within the College of Physicians'
definition of Puerperal Fever.
Of the 20 notified cases, 19 were treated in Hospitals. Three of these contracted the
disease in Hospitals; 6 cases were removed to Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospitals;
and 10 cases were removed to other London Hospitals.
Deaths.— Five deaths were registered as being due to Puerperal Fever. One of these
was not notified, and 2 were notified after death, and these three were not included in the
20 notified cases.
The diagnosis in 2 of the 20 notified cases was not confirmed in the Medical Officer of
Health s opinion. This, along with other cases that were notified some time after the date
of onset, points to the advisability of reporting suspected cases and of having some
arrangement for admitting such to an observation ward.
THE MILK SCHEME FOR NECESSITOUS EXPECTANT AND NURSING
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE.
I he total amount expended in the provision of fresh and dried milk for necessitous
expectant and nursing mothers and children under live years of age since the Order came
into operation is £32,946 3s. 5d.