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 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Case No. 2. Mrs. F. W., 25 years. "Renal Failure after
Childbirth" "Chronic Nephritis" "Toxaemia of
Pregnancy."
The cause of death was confirmed in each case by postmortem
examination.
One of these cases was an emergency admission. The other,
a booked case, had not been seen by the Medical Staff at Forest
Gate prior to admission.
CONFINEMENTS.
Of the 1,996 confinements: —
971 were Primigravidae.
1,025 were Multigravidae.
TWIN BIRTHS.
There were 29 cases of twin birth.
INFANT FEEDING.
(a) Number of infants wholly breast-fed on discharge from
Hospital 1,726
(b) Number of infants receiving a supplementary or
plementary feed on discharge 172
Tables are appended hereunder which illustrate some of the work of the Maternity Unit: —
| 1. | Presentation | No. of Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Vertex | 1,951 | |
| Breech | 38 | |
| Shoulder | 5 | |
| Face | 2 | |
| Brow | Nil | |
| 2. | Abnormal Labour | No. of Cases |
| Caesarean Section | 7 | |
| Craniotomy, etc. | 2 | |
| Ante-Partum Haemorrhage | 22 | |
| Placenta Praevia | 8 | |
| Post-Partum Haemorrhage | 38 | |
| Manual Removal of Placenta | 21 | |
| Forceps Deliveries | 63 | |
| Prolapse of Cord | 3 |
PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORY. Due acknowledgment
must be made of the excellent work done by the Technician,
when 2,089 examinations .were carried out during the year.
There is still a delay in obtaining essential items of equipment
for the full functioning of the Laboratory.
I have again to record my thanks to the Pathologist and
his staff at Whipps Cross Hospital, who were most helpful with
regard to special investigations required from time to time.
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