London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Barking 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

This page requires JavaScript

54
(10) Number of infants not entirely breast fed while
in the Institution, with reasons why they were
hot breast fed 4
(a) Weakness of mother 2
(b) Cleft Palate 1
(c) Feeble Twin (mother anaemic) 1
(11) Number of maternal deaths None
(12) Number of foetal deaths (a) stillborn, and (b)
within 10 days of birth and their causes—and
the results of the post mortem examination
if obtainable:—
(a) Still-born 2
(b) Within 10 days of birth 5
PUERPERAL FEVER AND PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
On October 1st, 1926, the Public Health (Notification of Puerperal
Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926, came into force.
These regulations require the notification of puerperal pyrexia
(according to the definition given in the regulations), in addition
to those cases previously notifiable as puerperal fever under the
Infectious Diseases Notification Act, 1899. In a circular accompanying
the Regulations, the Minister of Health urges local authorities
to exercise the powers conferred on them under the Maternity and
Child Welfare Act for provision of facilities for diagnosis, skilled
nursing at home, or institutional treatment, if in the opinion of the
medical practitioner in charge of the case any one of these is
necessary. In accordance with this direction, arrangements have
been made by the Council for nursing of the patient at home, or
in the isolation hospital as desired. In addition, Dr. A. Kennedy
has been engaged as consultant for those cases in which a second
opinion is required by the medical attendant.
Eight cases of puerperal fever were notified as compared with
3 in 1926, 3 of which were admitted to the Isolation Hospital,
2 of the cases were attended by midwives. Once case occurred in
the Municipal Maternity Ward. The patient was isolated immediately
on the onset of pyrexia, and no further cases occurred.