View report page

140
of premature birth following ante-partum haemorrhage in a primigravidse,
aged 33, in good home circumstances. The case of the
haemorrhage was unknown.
Seven of the ten cases were confined in hospital and the remaining
three were attended by midwives.
None of the domiciliary cases required hospital treatment.
The advice of the Obstetric Consultant was sought in one case.
Obstetric Consultant.
The advice of the Council's Consultant Obstetrician was
sought on seven occasions during the year, but on one of these
occasions it was the condition of the baby (three days old) which
was causing anxiety. The child had had recurring attacks of
melæna, starting 48 hours after an apparently normal breech
delivery. By the time the Consultant was called the child was
gravely ill but still moderately warm, and with a fair degree of
colour. The Consultant injected 20 c.c. of citrated blood from
the mother intramuscularly into the left thigh. This was effective
in controlling the bleeding and the baby made a good recovery.
Of the six cases in which advice was sought in respect of the
mother's condition, on three occasions assistance was requested
before the termination of labour and in the remainder on account
of puerperal complications.
The details of these six cases are as follows:—
1. Primigravida, age 26—home circumstances good—in
labour 36 hours—failure to progress—impacted breech—foetal
heart sounds not heard—mother's condition good—legs brought
down and child delivered under anaesthesia—9 lb. baby, stillborn
—third stage normal—no haemorrhage.
2. Multipara, age 26—home circumstances fair. First labour
rapid and normal—at time of consultation alleged to have been in
labour five days. On examination, cervix not taken up—internal
os closed—no evidence of real labour—medical induction advised.
Baby born normally less than 24 hours later.
3. Primigravida, age 25—home circumstances good. Labour
started three days previously—membranes ruptured six hours
previous to consultation—cervix thinned out and dilated to about