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In two instances warnings were sent to unqualified women
who were suspected to be conducting labours in the absence of a
medical practitioner, and the women in question were subsequently
interviewed and gave undertakings to cease such practice. Legal
procedings were taken, in one other instance, but the case was dismissed,
the evidence proving to be unsatisfactory.
(b) Maternity Home—St. Mary's Hostel.
17 beds are provided at St. Mary's Hostel by the Croydon
Mothers' and Infants' Welfare Association. Of these, 15 are
retained by the Corporation, priority being given to abnormal and
to necessitous cases. A subsidy of £1,800 per annum is paid
towards the charges of the institution by the Corporation.
The following is an analysis of the confinements conducted at
St. Mary's Hostel during 1924: —
1. Patients delivered by midwives on staff—
(a) Without medical assistance, routine, 196; emergency,
2; 198
(b) Requiring medical assistance before or after delivery
(induction, 9; antepartum haemorrhage, 1;
eclampsia, 1; ruptured perineum, 58; adherent
placenta, 1; prematurity, 1; hematoma, 1; placenta
previa, 1; version considered, 1; laceration of
cervix, 2; episiotomy, 1) 77
275
2. Patients delivered by medical staff—
(a) Abnormal cases booked before admission (forceps
for contracted pelvis, 6; for uterine inertia, 18; for
eclampsia, 2; complicated presentations, 2; operation
for deformity, 1) 29
(b) Emergency cases, admitted without previous
booking (craniotomy, 2; delayed labour, 2; abnormal
presentation, 1; antepartum haemorrhage, 2) 7
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Total 311
Of this total of 311 cases, 265 were booked before admission as
"normal" cases, priority being given to those in necessitous circumtances
or with bad home conditions; 39 were booked before
admission as difficult or abnormal cases; while 9 were admitted as
emergency cases without previous booking.
(c) Puerperal Sepsis, etc.
9 cases of puerperal sepsis were notified, compared with 3 in
1923. Two of the nine cases proved fatal. None were attended by
midwives.