[Report 1932] / Medical Officer of Health, Staffordshire County Council.

  • Staffordshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1932
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1932] / Medical Officer of Health, Staffordshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    27/90 (page 27)
    The arrangements made in 1930 for the issue of maternity outfits at the various Clinics were continued, and in rural areas where there was no Clinic, Health Visitors were given charge of these. At one time two types were sold, costing 6s. 2d. and 3s., but as a result of experience it was found that an outfit costing 4s. 6d. was best suited to the purpose. During the year 76 outfits were sold, and although this number is slightly greater than last year, comparatively little advantage appears to be taken of this scheme. The Ministry require that periodical examinations be made of these outfits to ascertain if they are bacteriologically sterile : so far, the results of our tests have been satisfactory. Stillbirths. It has already been noted that 582 stillbirths were registered during the year. Of these 229 were reported by midwives under their rules and on comparing this figure with those for the past 11 years I find that there is little variation in this number. The result of the investigations made by the Midwives Inspectors into the cause of these stillbirths is as follows :— Albuminuria .. . . . . . . 1 Ante-Partum Haemorrhage .. 1 Cord Prolapse . . . . . . .. 5 Cord round neck . . . . . . 9 Deformities . . . . . . . . 30 Difficult Labour . . . . . . 9 Fall and Shock . . . . .. 14 Ill-nourished . . . . . . . . 9 Maceration . . . . . . . . 104 Malpresentation . . . . . . 9 Placenta Praevia . . . . . . 2 Premature . . . . . . , . 26 Spina Bifida . . . . . . . . 3 Unsatisfactory Condition of Mother . . 5 Injury during Birth . . . . . . 2 County Bacteriological Laboratory. Dr. J. Menton, the County Bacteriologist, reports that during 1932, 44,358 investigations were conducted, being an increase of 5,195 on the previous year. Of these, 29,618 were of a general bacteriological and pathological nature, 14,225 were for the diag¬ nosis of and tests for cure for venereal diseases, and the remaining 515 were biochemical and pathological investigations conducted on behalf of the Staffordshire General Infirmary. The general