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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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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The following table gives particulars of the conditions for which children were treated during
1931, the treatment carried out and the results of such treatment:—
Table No. 4.—Children under 5 Years under Treatment in Hospital during 1931.
| Condition. | Brought forward. | Admitted during Year. | Total under Treatment. | Treatment Completed. | In Hospital at end of Year. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forms of Treatment. | Results of Treatment. | ||||||||||
| Operative. | General. | Other Forms. | Remedied. | Improved. | Unchanged | Died. | |||||
| Marasmus | 4 | 31 | 35 | — | 27 | — | 2 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids | 1 | 148 | 149 | 144 | — | 1 | 144 | — | 1 | — | 4 |
| Total | 5 | 179 | 184 | 144 | 27 | 1 | 146 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 12 |
Puerperal Fever.—During 1931 14 cases of Puerperal Fever were notified as against 5 in
1930, 6 in 1929, 6 in 1928, 5 in 1927, and 16 in 1926. This gives a case rate of 4.9 per 1,000 registered
live births, as against 1.7 in 1930, 2.21 in 1929, 2.25 in 1928, 1.95 in 1927, 5.93 in 1926.
Of these 14 notified cases 2 proved fatal. The 4 other deaths appearing in the death table
under puerperal sepsis were those of a case notified as puerperal pyrexia in 1930 and 3 cases which
occurred in institutions outside Willesden.
Taking the 2 deaths occurring amongst the 14 cases of puerperal fever notified in Willesden,
this gives a case mortality of 14.3 per cent. as against 20 per cent. in 1930, 50 in 1929, 33.4 in 1928,
60 in 1927, 25 in 1926, 12.5 in 1925 and 16.7 in 1924.
The maternal mortality from sepsis was 2.1 per 1,000 registered live births.
The maternal mortality from all causes was 3.2 per 1,000 registered live births.
In 5 of the notified cases a private doctor was in attendance at the confinements at home.
3 of these confinements were instrumental. In 1 case a midwife attended the confinement at home.
In 1 case the birth occurred in a nursing home, and in 4 cases in hospital, but in one of these last
the onset of the illness took place after the patient's return home. The other 3 cases were cases of
miscarriage at home.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—30 cases were notified during the year. 2 of these 30 cases proved
fatal. One of the fatal cases was also notified as Puerperal Fever, and the death has been recorded
under that heading. In the other fatal case the death was certified as due to Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
During 1931 the Council have continued their efforts to deal effectively with the subject of
maternal mortality.
(1) Sterilised Accouchment Sets.—These sets are supplied in accordance with the arrangements
stated in last year's report.
Table No. 5.—Puerperal Fever Cases, 1931. Home Circumstances.
| Number of Cases. | Number of Rooms. | Number of occupants, including new.born baby. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 years. | Over 10 years. | Total. | ||
| 1 (miscarriage) (fatal) | 1 | - | 2 | 2 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 1 (miscarriage) | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 (miscarriage) | 5 | . | 2 | 2 |
| 5 (1 fatal) | Occurred in Institutions. | |||