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
Barking 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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40
(g) Pemphigus Neonatorum.—Pemphigus Neonatorum is in Barking an
infectious disease within the meaning of the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act,
1889, and two such notifications were received during the year.
(h) Maternal Mortality.—According to the return of the Registrar-General
there were during the year 1936, three deaths from puerperal causes—one death
from puerperal sepsis and two deaths from other puerperal causes. This gives a
rate of 2.44 per 1,000 total births.
The following table gives you similar information for the last thirteen years :—
| 1924 | 1 | 2 | 3.66 | *3.90 |
| 1925 | — | 1 | 1.21 | *4.08 |
| 1926 | — | 1 | 1.22 | *4.12 |
| 1927 | 2 | 1 | 4.23 | *4.11 |
| 1928 | — | 2 | 2.48 | 4.25 |
| 1929 | — | 2 | 2.54 | 4.16 |
| 1930 | — | 3 | 3.72 | 4.22 |
| 1931 | 1 | 3 | 4.08 | 3.95 |
| 1932 | — | 1 | 0.88 | 4.06 |
| 1933 | 4 | — | 3.2 | 4.23 |
| 1934 | 4 | 3.82 | 4.41 | |
| 1935 | 3 | 1 | 3.18 | 3.93 |
| 1936 | 1 | 2 | 2.44 | 3.65 |
Rate per thousand live births—figure not available in respect of rate per thousand total births.
Previously, I have pointed out how difficult it is to define the term "maternal
death." The official definition is "a death due to or in consequence of childbirth,"
but in some cases, however, it is all but impossible to say whether the death does
actually and definitely come within the terms of this definition. Because the
term is so difficult to define in practice, it is impracticablc to compare the figures
of today with the figures of 25 and 100 years ago, and it is equally difficult to
compare the figures of one part of the Country with another part of the Country.
The figures I have given are those of the Registrar-General.