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2 (1 fatal) Occurred in Institutions.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—41 cases were notified during the year. Two of these 41 cases were
also notified as puerperal fever 1 proving fatal. Three of the other cases also proved fatal.
During 1929 the Council have continued their efforts to deal effectively with the subject of
maternal mortality.
(1) Sterilised Accouchment Sets.—Arrangements have been made for the provision of sterilised
accouchment sets sufficient for the confinement and 14 days following. The sets
contain:—
1 absorbent sheet (24 in. X 24 in.).
1 absorbent sheet (36 in. X 36 in.).
4 dozen swabs.
3 dozen sanitary towels.
1/4 lb. white lint.
3 ligatures for cord.
Domette bandage for keeping umbilical pad in place.
1 dozen safety pins.
2 binders for mother.
Brown or tarred paper.
These sets are supplied either free or on payment according to a scale sanctioned
by the Minister of Health. The full cost of the set is 11s. 3d.
They are available for:—
(a) Expectant mothers attending the health centres.
(b) Expectant mothers not attending the health centres but whose
finement will be attended by a midwife.
(c) Expectant mothers not attending the health centres but whose
finement will be attended by a doctor.
and may be obtained from the Municipal Health Centres by the doctor, the midwife
or the expectant mother on presenting a written recommendation from her doctor
or midwife.
(2) Specialist Help.—The Council now accept responsibility for the payment of the fee of one
of their specialists called in by a medical practitioner to assist him in connection with
a difficult case of labour occurring in a Willesden resident.
(3) Provision of Ancesthetist.—The Council further accept responsibility for the payment of a
fee (not exceeding 1 guinea) to an anaesthetist, called in by a medical practitioner in
connection with confinement cases.
The above arrangements were actually brought into operation on January 1st, 1930.
The Council is also taking part in investigating cases of deaths of mothers in childbirth for
the Maternal Mortality Committee of the Ministry of Health. This investigation is not yet complete.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—The number of cases of this disease notified during the year
was 36, giving a case rate of 13.3 per 1,000 registered births. A private doctor attended at the
confinement in 11 cases, a midwife in 13 cases, and 12 cases were born in hospital. Treatment was
obtained at a hospital in 7 cases, at the Municipal Clinics in 13 cases, at a voluntary clinic in 2 cases,
and by a private doctor at home in 14 cases. Complete recovery with unimpaired vision occurred
in 34 cases, in 1 case the child died from Prematurity and Bronchitis and in 1 case the result of treatment
was not ascertained.