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
Walthamstow 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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98
The Walthamstow (Prohibition of Unqualified Persons) Order
became operative from December 1st, 1938, and prohibited the
employment of the "handy woman."
Public Health Act, 1936 (Nursing Homes).—See Public
Health Section of the Report.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
Thirty-five cases of Puerperal Pyrexia were notified during 1938.
The notifications were received from the following sources:—
Maternity Hospital. 26; Hospitals outside the area, 2; and General
Practitioners, 7.
The puerperal pyrexia rate for 1938 was 20.8 per 1,000 births,
and the mortality due to puerperal sepsis was 2.8 per cent. of the
cases of puerperal pyrexia notified.
The Registrar-General has issued the following rates with regard to the notification of Puerperal Pyrexia. The Walthamstow rates are set out in comparison.
| Area | Per 1,000 live and still births | |
|---|---|---|
| Puerperal Fever | Puerperal Pyrexia | |
| England and Wales | 14.42 | |
| 126 County Boroughs and Great Towns, including London | 18.08 | |
| 148 Smaller Towns (25-50.000 population) | 12.51 | |
| London Administrative County | 3.53 | 15.46 |
| Walthamstow | 20.8 | |
The notifications and rates for Walthamstow for the past four years have been as follows:—
| Per 1,000 Total Births (live and still) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerperal Fever | Puerperal Pyrexia | Total | ||||
| Year | No. | Rate | No. | Rate | No. | Rate |
| 1938 | Not notifiable | 35 | 20.80 | 35 | 20.08 | |
| 1937 | 4 | 2.30 | 34 | 19.59 | 38 | 21.89 |
| 1936 | 5 | 2.82 | 30 | 16.96 | 35 | 19.78 |
| 1935 | 4 | 2.31 | 31 | 17.95 | 35 | 20.26 |