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maternity wards have gradually become more overcrowded, and
the lack of accommodation is always sufficient to tax the resources
of the resident staff.
Admissions.
The great increase in the work of the unit is well shown
in Table XV.
The number of twin births during 1937 was 12.
Abnormal births. The following were the major causes of
abnormality in the patients confined in the hospital during the
year:—Ante-partum haemorrhage, 12; post-partum haemorrhage,
6; eclampsia, 1.
Apart from these conditions the following abnormal
presentations were noted:—Breech, 40; transverse, 3; prolapse of
cord, 1. There were no face presentations during the year.
Induction of labour had to be performed in 105 cases, 6 by
surgical and 99 by medical means. Forceps were applied in 45
cases. Patients who required major surgical measures were transferred
to Whipps Cross Hospital, and in 1937 the number of
patients so transferred was 7. In all of these cases Caesarian
section was carried out. The indication for this operation in
these cases was the disproportion between the size of the foetus
and the size of the pelvis.
The number of premature births was 42. Peurperal pyrexia
was notified in 15 cases, and puerperal fever in 2 cases. Both
patients were treated in Forest Gate Hospital and made a complete
recovery.
One maternal death occurred during the year. The following
are brief particulars of this case:—The chief cause of difficulty
was prolonged labour in the first and second stages which lasted
over 72 hours, and slow dilation of the os. The method employed
was slow forceps delivery under general anaesthesia with antishock
treatment consisting of intravenous gum glucose saline
(300 c.c.), electric hot blanket and cardiac stimulants. The
patient was delivered at 5.10 p.m. The shock increased from
7 p.m. and she died at 4.40 a.m. The interval between admission
and death was thirteen and three-quarter hours.