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
Croydon 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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161
report of the puerperal isolation wards.
51 cases were treated in isolation for puerperal infection, 14
of them in the Borough Hospital Puerperal Infection Unit and
37 in Isolation Wards at Mayday Hospital. There were 6 deaths
(11.8 per cent.).
SOURCES OF THE CASES.
From Mayday Hospital— Cases. Deaths.
"Booked" cases 18 0
"Emergency" cases 12 2
From St. Mary's Maternity Hospital 4 1
From other hospitals 0 0
From private doctors, deliveries in nursing
homes 2 0
From private doctors, deliveries at home 15 3
DAY OF ADMISSION AFTER LABOUR.
Before 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th After
No. of cases 013 12 10 3 4 5 2 00 0 11
43 cases followed Labour with 3 deaths (7.0 per cent.).
8 cases followed Abortion with 3 deaths (37.5 per cent.).
The 51 cases treated may be classified as follows:—
| Cases. | Deaths. | Mortality Rate. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Patients with infection of the genital tract | 33 | 6 | 18% | |
| 15 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10 | 1 | 10% | ||
| (c) Infection of the birth canal spread beyond the pelvis (general peritonitis, septicsemia, etc.) | 8 | 5 | 62½ % | |
| (2) Patients with infective conditions not originating in the genital tract | 18 | 0 | 0 | |
| Factors Bearing on Aetiology. | Mo. of cases with infection. genital | No. of cases with infection. non-genital | ||
| Uncomplicated labour | 10 | 6 | ||
| Long labour | 2 | |||
| Surgical induction of labour | 1 | 2 | ||
| Instrumental delivery | 8 | 5 | ||
| Spontaneous abortion | 4 | 1 | ||
| Evacuation of abortion | 2 | 1 | ||
| Manual removal of placenta | 8 | 1 | ||
| Excessive bleeding | 4 | |||
| Severe lacerations | 2 | 0 | ||
| Other interference | ||||