Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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Special visits of investigation in all still-births were paid, and the following details elicited as far as accurately could be established:—
| (1) Duration of pregnancy:— | |
| (a) Less than seven months | 1 |
| (b) More than seven months | 29 |
| (2) Presentation:— | |
| (a) Vertex | 22 |
| (b) Breach | 3 |
| (c) Footling | 1 |
| (d) Not elicited | 4 |
| (3) Supposed cause of still-birth:— | |
| (a) Abnormal presentation | 1 |
| (b) Overwork | 2 |
| (c) Accident, etc. | 7 |
| (d) Not known | 14 |
| (e) Ill health, etc. | 4 |
| (f) Malformation | 2 |
| (4) Occupation of mother:— | |
| (a) Household duties | 22 |
| (b) Factory hand | 4 |
| (c) Shop assistant | 2 |
| (d) Flower seller | 1 |
| (e) Machinist | 1 |
Of the mothers who had still-born babies 9 had worked up
to the time of confinement.
Of the total number of mothers who had still-births 10, or
35.7 per cent, had attended the Ante-natal Clinic once or oftener.
As already pointed out disease of the mother probably
accounts for some 50 per cent, of still-births throughout the
country.