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
St Pancras 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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Diarrhoea and Enteritis.
| Year. | Births Registered. | Deaths from Diarrhœa and Enteritis. | Infantile Mortality— from all Causes— per 1,000 Births. | 4-foot Earth Temperature (Mean for Aug., Sept. and Oct.). | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Ages. | Under 5. | Under 1. | Deaths under 1 per 1,000 Births. | ||||
| Deg. F. | |||||||
| 1904 | 6,116 | 257 | 237 | 205 | 34 | 152 | 57.3 |
| 1905 | 5,801 | 202 | 192 | 159 | 27 | 136 | 57.5 |
| 1906 | 5,744 | 234 | 228 | 189 | 33 | 131 | 58.9 |
| 1907 | 5,484 | 104 | 89 | 75 | 14 | 113 | 56.5 |
| 1908 | 5,546 | 142 | 135 | 107 | 19 | 115 | 57.3 |
| 1909 | 5,238 | 105 | 99 | 80 | 15 | 108 | 56.9 |
| 1910 | 5,385 | 82 | 78 | 59 | 11 | 107 | 56.8 |
| 1911 | 5,555 | 248 | 218 | 168 | 30 | 112 | 59.5 |
| 1912 | 5,367 | 45 | 35 | 32 | 6 | 88 | 55.3 |
| 1913 | 5,517 | 148 | 127 | 95 | 17 | 93 | 56.8 |
| 1914 | 5,225 | 142 | 127 | 106 | 20 | 92 | 57.6 |
| 1915 | 4,754 | 114 | 107 | 79 | 17 | 105 | 56.5 |
| 1916 | 4,530 | 72 | 56 | 41 | 9 | 85 | 56.8 |
| 1917 | 3,796 | 97 | 80 | 61 | 16 | 106 | 57.4 |
| 1918 | 3,318 | 56 | 47 | 37 | 11 | 102 | 57.0 |
| 1919 | 3,824 | 68 | 55 | 47 | 12 | 88 | 57.2 |
| 1920 | 5,934 | 54 | 44 | 37 | 6 | 73 | 57.9 |
| 1921 | 4,764 | 98 | 83 | 74 | 16 | 76 | 60.1 |
It will be seen from this table that the infantile diarrhœal mortality in 1921, although
higher than in certain recent years, compares very favourably with the mortality in former hot
years. The rate for 1921 was 16, whereas in 1911 it was 30, and in certain years before that date
even more. Yet the weather conditions in 1921 as judged by the earth temperature (60.1°
Fahr.) can be regarded as actually worse than in 1911 (59.5) or any previous year included
in the table. With a view to a more graphic representation of the improvement in this respect
the chart on the next page is presented showing the infantile diarrhœal mortality rate and the
4-foot earth temperature for the years in question.
There is good reason to believe that the decline in the infantile mortality caused by hot
and dry summer conditions, like the diminution in the infantile mortality from all causes, is a
manifestation of the good results of the campaign of recent years for the promotion of maternity
and child welfare.
During the hot months of the year a bill was posted throughout the borough warning
parents of the danger of summer diarrhoea and giving advice as to the prevention of the disorder
and the steps to be taken if it supervened. The practice which has been in operation for many
years of sending during the hot months to all mothers of newly-born infants special advice in
connection with the risk of infantile diarrhoea was also continued. The advice is printed on a
special leaflet which, during the hot season, is enclosed with the advice-card that is always sent
to the mother upon receipt of a birth-notification.
The Council undertake to pay the district nursing associations for the home nursing of
cases of infantile diarrhoea. In the year 1921 only 34 nursing visits were made (to 8 cases)
under this arrangement.