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
Dagenham 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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59
Of the 11 cases of puerperal fever, 6 were treated at home
and 5 admitted to institutions; two proved fatal. In one case
the labour was normal; another was apparently due to infection
of a perineal tear, caused by precipitate labour. In 7 cases
forceps were applied and in one an adherent placenta removed.
The arrangements for the treatment of puerperal cases
consists of removal to Oldchurch Hospital for severe casei
Mild cases are treated at home by an arrangement with the
District Nursing Association.
Work of the Health Visitors.
Routine visits arc paid to infants as soon as possible after
the tenth day, and special visits arc paid respecting cases of
Ophthalmia Neonatorum, Puerperal Fever, following up operations
for Tonsils and Adenoids, etc.
During the year the Health Visitors paid the following visits:—
| First visit to children under one year | 3,373 |
| Subsequent visits to these children | 1,645 |
| First visits to children 1 to 5 | 514 |
| Subsequent visits to children 1 to 5 | 922 |
| Visits to expectant mothers | 514 |
Infant Welfare Centres:—
| Total number of sessions held | 326 |
| Total attendances of children over 1 year | 6,685 |
| Total attendances of children under 1 year | 13,265 |
| Average attendance of children per session | 61 |
| Number of individual children | 2,002 |
| Ante-natal Clinics:— | |
| Total number of sessions held | 130 |
| Total attendances of mothers | 1,510 |
| Average attendance per session | 12 |
| Number of first attendances | 596 |