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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Pemphigus Neonatorum.
There was no case of this condition notified during 1936 to
the Medical Officer of Health.
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
Seventeen cases of Puerperal Fever and 44 cases of Puerperal
Pyrexia were notified to the Medical Officer of Health; this
represents 2.8 per 1,000 notified births in regard to Puerperal
Fever, and 7.5 cases of Pyrexia per 1,000 births.
Arrangements are in force whereby the mother and baby can
be admitted immediately to hospital if such is considered necessary.
Three Consultant Obstetric Surgeons have been appointed
by the Council so that the patient may have the benefit of consultant
services in her own home.
Home nursing of puerperal cases is carried out by the nurses from the several District Nursing Associations in the Borough.
| Where Nursed | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Hospital | West Ham Recovered | Residents. Died | |
| Puerperal Fever | 1 | 16 | 12 | 2 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 9 | 35 | 26 | 1 |
Infantile Mortality.
The Infantile Mortality Rate lor 1936 is 70.2 per 1,000 births.
The rate for the 123 Great Towns was 63 per 1,000.
The total number of deaths under one year was 294 (164
males, 130 females), of which number 16 deaths occurred in illegitimate
infants.
Table Shewing Notified Causes of Death under One Year of Age.
Congenital Debility, Prematurity, Malformation, etc. 113
Pneumonia, Bronchitis, other Respiratory Diseases 59
Diarrhoea, Digestive Disturbances, etc. 75
Nephritis 1
Infectious Diseases 23
(a) Whooping Cough, 7.
(b) Measles, 10.
(c) Diphtheria, 1.
(d) Influenza, 2.
(e) Cerebro-Spinal Fever, 3.
Tuberculosis (all forms) 6
Violence 5
Other defined Diseases 12
Total 294
59