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112
Medical Officer stated that it was somewhat disappointing to find
that measures which were effective in reducing maternal mortality
by 75 per cent. have not had more effect upon the stillbirth rate.
The same remark would appear to apply to the cases in the Ilford
Maternity Home. (The rate for the same period of the Ilford
Maternity Home was 1.7 per cent.)
The causes of the 16 stillbirths in the Home during 1931 were
as follows:—
Prematurity 1
Extended breech 2
Ante- partum haemorrhage (twin) 2
Macerated foetus 5
Prematurity— Congenital heart 1
Forceps delivery for foetal distress 1
Enlarged Thymus 1
Forceps delivery 1
Toxemia, concealed accidental haemorrhage
Forceps delivery 1
Unknown 1
The neo-natal death-rate of babies horn in the Maternity Home
was 1.9 per cent. compared with 3.7 per cent. in the district in
general. The death-rate of babies who died before 14 days, born
in the Maternity Home, was 1.6 per cent. in 1931 and .8 per cent.
in 1930. This appears to be a satisfactory figure, the corresponding
figure for the East London Maternity Hospital was 1.3 per cent.
in the series of cases mentioned above. In Ilford the neo-natal rate
for 1930 was 1.68 per cent. and for 1931 was 3.2 per cent. For
England and Wales for 1930 it was 3. per cent.
Puerperal Pyrexia.— Four cases of puerperal pyrexia occurred due to
(1) septic laceration of vagina following mid-forceps delivery for obstructed
labour, (2) puerperal pyelitis, bacillus coli infection, (3) mastitis, (4)
sapraemia. The last two cases were admitted to the Isolation Hospital.
All made satisfactory recoveries.
The average rate for puerperal pyrexia cases occurring at the Maternity
Home for the past five years was 4.6, ocmpared with 5.5 for the births elsewhere
in the Ilford district. Puerperal pyrexia was first notifiable on 1st
October, 1926.
One case of puerperal insanity occurred, the patient being removed to
Romford Infirmary. The patient made a good recovery.
Two cases (and one doubtful case) of pemphigus neonatorum occurred
at the Home during the year. The infants and mothers were removed to the
Isolation Hospital. The patients recovered.