[Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, South Shields County Borough.

  • South Shields (Durham, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1949
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, South Shields County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Among the cases attending the clinics there were 24 miscarriages, 15 stillbirths, 73 premature births. 24 left town and one was subsequently untraced. One was a County case. Of the births, three babies died on the day of birth, and two died under one week. Two maternal deaths occurred among those attending the clinic. Routine Wassermann tests were carried out on 1,508 cases of whom 18 gave positive results. 18 patients were referred to special clinics and 50 to the chest clinic. The following were the defects found among the mothers :— Dental caries . 506 Respiratory diseases . 27 Varicose veins. 250 Oedema . 110 Albuminuria . 42 Raised blood pressure. 67 Glycosuria . 22 Cardiac disease . 51 In addition to those who attended the Municipal Pre-natal Clinics, a considerable number, some of whom were Countv Cases attended the pre-natal clinic held at the General Hospital, principally those who applied for admission to the hospital. Arrangements are made whereby the municipal midwives can interview and examine their patients at the Municipal Clinic. The midwives attend in rota in the afternoons and evenings. The arrangement has been much appreciated by the mothers and has been conducive to more efficient service and increased attendances. Rhesus Factor. 1,375 specimens of blood from expectant mothers and 111 cord specimens from babies were examined for Rhesus Factor. 1,260 had positive re-action and 226 were negative. (One of these babies was admitted to hospital with active anti-bodies). Post-Natal Clinics. 83 women, made 121 attendances for advice and treatment. Maternity Outfits. 1,422 complete outfits were distributed to expectant mothers from the Health Department during 1949.