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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
Willesden 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Hospital Treatment of Children under 5 Years of Age.—The following table gives
particulars of the children under treatment at the Willesden General Hospital and St. Monica's Home
Hospital under the Council's scheme during 1929:—
Table No. 2.
| Willesden General Hospital. | St. Monica's Home Hospital. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Children in Hospital at 31st December, 1928 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. of Children admitted during 1929 | 86 | 5 | 91 |
| Total No. of Children under treatment during 1929 | 86 | 5 | 91 |
| No. of Children discharged during 1929 | 85 | 1 | 86 |
| No. of Children died in Hospital during 1929 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mortality % | 0 | 20 | 1.09 |
| No. of Children remaining in Hospital at 31st Dec., 1929 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
The following table gives particulars of the conditions for which children were admitted during 1929, the treatment carried out and the results of such treatment:—
Table No. 3.—Children under 5 Years Admitted to Hospital during 1929.
| Condition. | No. Admitted. | Forms of Treatment. | Result of Treatment. | In Hospital at end of 1929. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operative. | General. | Other forms. | Remedied. | Improved. | Unchanged | Died. | |||
| Marasmus | 11 | - | 11 | - | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids | 80 | 80 | — | — | 80 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 91 | 80 | 11 | — | 83 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Puerperal Fever.—During 1929, 6 cases of Puerperal Fever were notified as against 6 in
1928, 5 in 1927 and 16 in 1926. This gives a case rate of 2.21 per 1,000 registered live births, as
against 2.90 in 1923, 4.20 in 1924, 5.80 in 1925, 5.93 in 1926, 1.95 in 1927 and 2.25 in 1928.
Three of these 6 notified cases proved fatal. The fourth death appearing in the death table
under puerperal sepsis was that of a case notified as puerperal pyrexia. Taking the 3 deaths occurring
amongst the notified cases of puerperal fever this gives a case mortality of 50 per cent. as against
33.4 per cent. in 1928, 60 per cent. in 1927, 25 per cent. in 1926, 12.5 per cent. in 1925 and 16.7
per cent. in 1924.
The maternal mortality from puerperal sepsis was 1.5 per 1,000 registered live births.
The maternal mortality from all causes was 4.1 per 1,000 registered live births.
In 3 of the 6 notified cases a private doctor was in attendance at birth and in 2 cases the birth
occurred in Hospital. In 1 case the child was born before the arrival of the doctor or nurse.
The other particulars of the 6 cases are as follows:—
1 case—admitted to hospital as emergency case—breech presentation—instrumental
delivery—-15 satures—mother and infant died.
1 case—confined in hospital—no particulars as to confinement.
1 case—confined at home—6 1/2 months foetus—leg brought down early in labour—
4 vaginal examinations—2 small vaginal lacerations.
1 case—confined at home—reported to have had severe haemorrhages on 5th and 4th
days prior to confinement.
1 case—confined at home—removed to hospital on 3rd day and died half-an-hour
after admission. No particulars of confinement.
1 case—confined at home—no doctor or midwife present—did not progress after confinement—ulcer
of leg—removed to hospital on 9th day. Fatal. Inquest. Child
died on the 3rd day.
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4 cases were treated in Park Royal Hospital, 2 recovered and 2 proved fatal.
1 case was treated in a Hospital outside Willesden and proved fatal.
1 case was treated at home and recovered.
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