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
London County Council 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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T able IV.—
| Mode of termination of pregnancy. | Complication of labour or reason for interference. | Total. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eclampsia. | Pyelitis pyelonephritis. | Other toxaemias. | Disproportion and contracted pelvis. | Other obstructed deliveries, † | Malpresenta-tion. | Placenta praevia. | Other A. P. hemorrhage. | Uterine inertia and shock. | Post-maturity. | Other conditions of pregnancy. * | Concurrent disease. | Discharges. | Deaths. | Cases. | |
| 1. Natural (i.e., unaided)— | |||||||||||||||
| Without stated complications of labour, but including concurrent diseases—Live | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11,071 | 16 | 11,087 |
| Still | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 196 | 1 | 197 |
| Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11,267 | 17 | 11,284 |
| With stated complications of labour—Live | 2 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 108 | 19 | 12 | 71 | 1 | 119 | — | 356 | 1 | 357 |
| Still | 2 | - | 5 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 14 | 9 | 4 | — | 26 | — | 83 | 3 | 86 |
| Total | 4(1) | 3 | 18 (2) | 11 | 2 | 130 | 33 (1) | 21 | 75 | 1 | 145 | — | 439 | 4 | 443 |
| 2.By interferemce Cæsarean-Live | 2 | 1 | 5 | 70 | - | 4 | 14 | - | - | — | — | 31 | 120 | 7 | 127 |
| Still | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | - | - | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Surgical induction-Live | 1 | 6 | 38 | 52 | - | 10 | 6 | 4 | - | 24 | 18 | 6 | 164 | 1 | 165 |
| Still | 2 | - | 10 | - | - | 6 | 8 | 4 | — | — | 8 | — | 37 | 1 | 38 |
| Forceps following surgical induction—Live | 2 | - | 5 | 6 | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 18 | — | 18 |
| Still | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | 4 |
| Forceps—Live | 4 | - | 4 | 62 | 21 | 62 | 1 | 1 | 144 | 5 | 58 | 4 | 363 | 3 | 366 |
| Still | 1 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 18 | — | 68 | 7 | 75 |
| Version during labour:— | |||||||||||||||
| External —Live | - | - | - | 1 | — | 25 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | - | 30 | — | 30 |
| Still | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | — | 6 |
| Internal—Live | - | - | - | - | 1‡‡ | 12 | — | — | — | - | 1 | — | 13 | 1‡‡ | 14 |
| Still | - | - | - | 1 | - | 9 | 10 | 1 | 1 | - | 3 | — | 24 | 1 | 25 |
| Embryulcia, craniotomy—Live | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Still | 1 | - | - | 3§ | 1 | 4¶ | — | 1 | 1 | - | 1§ | — | 8¶ | 4¶ | 12 |
| Medical induction—Live | - | 4 | 39 | 95 | — | 18 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 139 | 38 | 6 | 351 | 1 | 352 |
| Still | - | - | 3 | 1 | - | 5 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | 16 | — | 16 |
| ‡Other—Live | - | - | 1 | 9 | 6 | 15§§ | 9 | — | — | 2 | 7 | 1 | 50§§ | — | 50 |
| Still | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 7§ | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3§ | — | 16 | — | 16 |
| Total—Live | 9 | 11 | 92 | 295 | 28 | 146 | 35 | 6 | 159 | 170 | 123 | 48 | 1,109 | 13 | 1,122 |
| Still | 6 | 3 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 54 | 27 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 35 | — | 186 | 15 | 201 |
| Total | 15 (2) | 14 (2) | 107 (1) | 319 (3) | 35 (2) | 200 (3) | 62(1) | 16 | 173 (3) | 176 | 158 (5) | 48 (6) | 1,295 | 28 | 1,323 |
| 3. Died undelivered (over 28 weeks gestation) | 2** | 1†† | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 300 | — | 11 | 11 |
| Grand total | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | 13,001 | 60 | 13,061 |
† Mainly cases of rigidity of perineum or soft parts.
* Chiefly cases of foetal or maternal distress, high blood
pressure, foetal abnormalities and premature
ruptured membranes.
‡ including failed induction, failed forceps, failed
version, episiotomy.
§ One case of failed forceps before admission.
¶ Two cases of failed forceps before admission.
** Includes one case of surgical induction.
Medical induction attempted.
‡‡ Following failed forceps.
§§ One case of failed forceps.
00 One case of Caesarean section after death.
N.B.—Figures in brackets are deaths included in
total ; the condition under which a death is classified is
not necessarily the proximal cause of death. A multiple
confinement has been counted as one case delivered ;
where a live and still (twin) birth occurred, the delivery
has been classed as a live birth.