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

City of Westminster 1924

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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21
Mortality of Children between the ages of 1 and 5 Years
from 1901 to 1924.
The accompanying table shows the causes to which death was
attributed in five groups of years from 1901.

Table: Deaths of children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, with rates per 1,000, estimated to be living in the five groups of years from 1901 to 1924-

Deaths of children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, with rates per 1,000, estimated to be living in the five groups of years from 1901 to 1924-

Causes of Death-1901-5-1900-10-1911-15-1916-20-1921-24-
Deaths-Rate-Deaths-Rate-Deaths-Rate-Deaths-Rate-Deaths-Rate-
Smallpox30-06--------
Measles1543-47862-19922-70371-35231-25
Scarlet fever320-71320-81140-4180-2930-16
Whooping cough922-00541-37371-08281-02130-71
Diphtheria511-4521-2300-88331-20392-10
Influenza20-0420-05-_210-8630-16
Erysipelas10-02--------
Cerebro-spinal fever--20-0530-0840-1410-05
Septic infection10-0220-0530-0820-0710-05
Rheumatic fever and valvular heart disease40-0920-0540-11--10-05
Tuberculosis1303-041072-72752-20441-60140-76
Meningitis and Convulsions451-00240-01160-47100-3680-43
Bronchitis701-50330-84130-3870-25110-60
Pneumonia -1473-28771-90782-29562-04542-95
Other Respiratory diseases330-8430-0810-0330-16
Diarrhoea, enteritis430-90280-71320-94130-4740-22
Other diseases of digestive system200-40130-3360-1770-2570-38
Syphilis----20-0610-0310-05
Developmental disease420-94250-63190-56100-3630-16
Kidney disease80-1860-1520-0610-0310-05
Accidents310-09200-66240-76200-73120-65
Murder2
Other causes390-91190-08170-50140-50150-82
Totals92922-2062415-947213-8831811-0021711-87

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The average of 22-20 per 1,000 of children living at that age period in
1901-5 has fallen in each group of years until the last which shows a slight
rise, but is still about half what it was in the first period. "While improvement
has taken place under most headings, the last two periods show an
increase in Diphtheria deaths (to which I refer later in this Report), and in
deaths from Influenza. There is no improvement in the proportion of
deaths from Bronchitis and Pneumonia. To some extent this may be
due to the prevalence of Influenza, but there is need for enquiry as to other
factors bearing upon the causation of these affections, not only at this age,
but at all age periods. The effect of smoke and fog is recognised as one
(3692)q c