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32
18. MATERNAL MORTALITY.
Cases of deaths due to pregnancy or childbirth are investigated,
and during the year two confidential reports have been submitted
to the Ministry of Health. The small number of such deaths
precludes the possibility of my advancing any hypothesis on this
vexed problem.
Similarly, cases of puerperal fever and puerperal pyrexia are
the subject of investigation, and any necessary steps are taken to
secure adequate nursing and hospital facilities for the patients.
If necessary, cases are nursed in the infectious fever hospital, and
although there have been three cases of puerperal fever and ten
cases of puerperal pyrexia, there have fortunately been no fatalities.
The work of the Plaistow Maternity Charity is carried out with
such meticulous accuracy that I should suppose, in areas in which
they operate, the number of cases of pyrexia notified will be rather
higher than elsewhere.
19. INSTITUTIONAL PROVISION FOR UNMARRIED
MOTHERS, ILLEGITIMATE INFANTS AND HOMELESS
CHILDREN.
We have not, in Barking, any institutions which make provision
for unmarried mothers, illegitimate infants and homeless children,
other than those provided by the Public Assistance Committee and
the various voluntary agencies, with which we are constantly in
touch.
The competent sub-committee responsible for recommending
admissions to Upney, wherever practicable, take a very kindly view
with reference to unmarried expectant mothers.