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The average number of pregnancies was 4.5 and the average number of children
alive per patient was 3.4. These figures bear out remarkably well the tentative
conclusions which were reached from the inadequate data available at the date of
writing of the last report. The patients who attend this clinic do not on the whole
present any exceptional obstetric history in respect of the total number of pregnancies,
and it would appear that if the children play any part in the causation of ill health
in the mothers, they possibly exert their influence not so much through the strain
of child bearing but owing to the economic factors which are induced by the presence
of several children in a poor household. Contrary to what might be expected in a
working class district like Shoreditch, families of more than four children appear
to be definitely exceptional.
Medical findings.— In a report of this type a detailed description of the medical
findings is unwarranted, but the following brief summary will give some idea of the
conditions dealt with during the year:—
Heart conditions 9
Anaemia 26
Circulatory conditions 6
Chest conditions 12
Nervous conditions 8
Menopausal or allied conditions
15
Diseases of the liver or ducts 3
Debility 7
Malnutrition 6
Rheumatism 4
Migraine 1
Other conditions 24
No apparent disease 14
Of the patients mentioned above four were referred to St. Bartholomew's Hospital for
further examination or for out-patient treatment, and one was sent to the hospital
for admission. Six patients were referred to their own practitioners.
One patient was referred to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital for
admission and four patients were sent to other hospitals for special methods of
diagnosis. Apart from the methods of treatment which have been mentioned one
patient was referred to the Medical Officer of Health for convalescent treatment.
This patient was sent to a convalescent home.