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
Holborn 1915
Report for the year 1915 of the Medical Officer of Health
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10
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
The number of deaths of children under one year of age, and the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 total registered births and per 1,000 corrected births, were the following for:—
| Deaths under 1 year of age. | Deaths under 1 year per 1,000 registered births. | Deaths under 1 year per 1,000 corrected legitimate births. | Deaths under 1 year per 1,000 corrected illegitimate births. | Deaths under 1 year per 1,000 corrected births. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holborn Borough | (4 | 108 | 78 | 315 | 96 |
| London | 11,869 | — | — | — | 112 |
Death-rate per 1,000 corrected births in 1915 and in eight preceding years during which details respecting births have been supplied.
| 1907. | 1908. | 1909. | 1910. | 1911. | 1912. | 1913. | 1914. | 1915. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Borough | 131 | 1ll | 101 | 100 | 113 | 78 | 100 | 88 | 96 |
| London | 116 | 113 | 108 | 103 | 129 | 91 | 105 | 104 | 112 |
From the above table it will be seen that since the adoption of the Notification
of Births Act in March, 1908, the infantile mortality of the Borough has been less
than that for London.
Seventeen of the 64 infants that died under one year of age were known to be
illegitimate children. A newly-born infant found in Queen Square was also
probably illegitimate.
Of the 64 deaths of infants during the year the Lady Sanitary Inspector
was able to obtain further details respecting 54. Of these 8. principally cases
of premature birth, died before taking food; only 21 were breast fed, and 25
artificially fed. In 10 of these the mothers worked in factory or workshop,
3 were engaged in charing or other work outside the home, and 11 were in
domestic service. There were 8 deaths from diarrhœal diseases. 5 of these
took place in the third or summer quarter. Of 59 deaths 25 were from
prenatal causes and 34 from postnatal causes. 3 of the above deaths were infants
of Belgian refugees.
The principal causes of death of these 67 children under one year of age
are given in Table IV. of the Appendix.