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
West Ham 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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brought to my knowledge during the year. The cases occurred at
intervals throughout the year; no direct spread could be traced in
most instances, but in the practice of Midwife D (see following
table) 3 cases occurred within 15 days. Recovery occurred in all
cases.
Midwife D. 1st case (a) Spots appeared on the 11th day
No further cases of "watery blisters" have occurred since in the practice of this midwife.
| Midwife or | Treated at | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor | No. of Cases. | Home | Hospital |
| Midwife A | 1 | 1 | — |
| Midwife B | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Midwife C | 4 | 4 | — |
| Doctor — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Midwife D | 3 | 3 | — |
| Midwife E | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals | 12 | 10 | 2 |
Maternal Mortality.
Total number of births in the Borough in 1929, 5,961.
Number of deaths due to complications of pregnancy or childbirth,
15.
Maternal Mortality Rate.
1929 1928 1927
2.5 per 1,000 2.1 per 1,000 3.0 per 1,030
Average age of mothers at death, 29.5 years.
Deaths from Sepsis, 8.
Deaths from other causes, 7.
Of the eight deaths from Sepsis, seven occurred after confinement
at lull term, and only one—illegitimate—resulted from an
abortion.
Seven deaths were attributed to causes other than Sepsis, four
being due to haemorrhage, and three due to toxaemia of pregnancy.
Antenatal supervision, in varying degrees, was found to have
been exercised in eight cases, while the remaining seven were never
seen during pregnancy, until the condition developed which ultimately
caused death.
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