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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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poor. Ante-natal supervision unsatisfactory, in that the patient
refused to attend an ante-natal clinic or to co-operate in any way
with those in charge of her case. Full-time pregnancy when
labour commenced at home. The midwife sent for a doctor owing
to delay in the second stage. After two unsuccessful attempts to
deliver with forceps at home, the patient was admitted to a
maternity hospital and delivered by forceps two hours later. Her
condition on admission was very poor, with symptoms of shock.
Death occurred on the third day. Post-mortem examination showed
rupture of the uterus and early peritonitis. Cause of death:
(a) ileus paralyticus; (b) obstructed labour; (c) rupture of uterus.
Table X.
| Year. | Live births notified. | Stillbi. ths notified. | Total notified births. | Percent, of stillbirths to total notified births. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 6,297 | 219 | 6,516 | 3.4 |
| 1928 | 6,671 | 189 | 6,860 | 2.8 |
| 1929 | 6,316 | 210 | 6,526 | 3.2 |
| 1930 | 6,428 | 195 | 6,623 | 2.9 |
| 1931 | 6,194 | 190 | 6,384 | 3.0 |
| 1932 | 6,223 | 192 | 6,415 | 3.0 |
| 1933 | 5,662 | 173 | 5,835 | 3.0 |
| 1934 | 5,576 | 207 | 5,783 | 3.6 |
| 5,158 | 156 | 5,314 | 2.9 | |
| 1936 | 5,689 | 214 | 5,903 | 3.6 |
| 1937 | 5,605 | 204 | 5,809 | 3.5 |
(7) Age, 32 years. Married. General health good, home conditions
poor. Adequate ante-natal supervision. She had slight
ante-partum haemorrhage at the third month. At the eighth
month the patient had concealed ante-partum haemorrhage, which
caused collapse due to a marginal placenta praevia. She was seen
and treated by a doctor at home, and delivered of a stillborn
premature baby four hours after the onset of the haemorrhage.
She died two hours later. Cause of death: (a) shock and syncope;
(b) concealed accidental haemorrhage; (c) pregnancy—stillbirth
of foetus.
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