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
Willesden 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Taking the 1 death occurring amongst the 3 cases of puerperal fever notified in Willesden, this gives a case mortality of 33.4 per cent. as against 11.1 per cent. in 1934, 30.8 per cent. in 1933, 25 per cent. in 1932, 14.3 per cent. in 1931, 20 per cent. in 1930, 50 per cent. in 1929, and 33.4 per cent. in 1928.
In all 3 notified cases a private doctor was in attendance at the confinement at home. The patients were subsequently removed to hospital. One died and two recovered.
Table No . 7.—P uerperal Fever Cases , 1935. Home Circumstances.
| Number of Cases. | Number of Rooms. | Number of occupants, including new-born baby. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 years. | Over 10 years. | Total. | ||
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 1 (fatal) | 5 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
Puerperal Pyrexia.—35 cases were notified during the year. 3 of these 35 cases proved
fatal, 1 of the deaths being attributed to Puerperal Sepsis, 1 to post-abortive sepsis and 1 to Puerperal
Insanity.
Maternal Mortality.—During 1935 there were 8 deaths classed to pregnancy and childbearing—4
to Puerperal Sepsis, 2 of these being post-abortive Sepsis, and 4 to other puerperal causes.
The puerperal mortality rate from Sepsis was, therefore, 1.40 per 1,000 registered live births
and 1.36 per 1,000 registered total births. The corresponding figures for 1934 were 1.46 per 1,000
registered live births and 1.41 per 1,000 registered total births.
The total puerperal mortality rate was 2.81 per 1,000 registered live births and 2.73 per 1,000
registered total births. The corresponding figures for 1934 were 2.92 per 1,000 registered live
births and 2.82 per 1,000 registered total births.
During 1935 there were no maternal deaths from non-puerperal causes and no maternal deaths
from criminal abortion.
The total maternal mortality from all causes was thus 2.81 per 1,000 registered live births and
2.73 per 1,000 registered total births as against 3.28 and 3.17 in 1934.
During 1935 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 my Annual Report for 1930, p. 10.
During 1935, 212 were supplied free, 10 at full cost and 5 at part cost.
(2) Specialist Help.—The Council 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. 2 such consultations were
paid for in 1935.
(3) Provision of Ancesthetist.—The Council further accept responsibility for the payment of a
fee to an anaesthetist, called in by a medical practitioner in connection with confinement
cases. No such fee was paid in 1935.
Maternal Mortality Investigations.—The Council has continued to take part in the
investigation of deaths of mothers in childbirth for the Maternal Mortality Committee of the Ministry
of Health. The investigations are carried out by the Council's Consultant Obstetrician. 8 cases
were inquired into during 1935.
The services of the Council's Consultant Obstetrician are also available in cases of Puerperal
Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia when desired by the practitioner in attendance.
Health Visiting and Medical Inspection of Children between the Ages of
1 and 5 Years.
The practice described under this heading on page 9 of the Annual Report for 1931, was continued
during the current year. The aims and methods adopted were outlined on pages 9 and 10
of the Annual Report for 1932.
Findings of Medical Inspections.—The following table shows the numbers and percentages
of individual defects found in 556 children examined during the year.