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
Dagenham 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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45
Considering the respiratory diseases, it is seen that they
are higher than the normal. To some extent these figures are
ncreased at the expense of those of " other causes " as bronhitis
or pneumonia in the very young, as in the very old is
nore a method of dying than actually the primary cause of
death. From one illness or another, vitality is lowered and the
espiratory affection merely represents the terminal stage.
That this is true to a certain extent is possible when the distribution throughout the year of respiratory affections is considered.
| 1st Quarter. | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter. | 4th Quarter. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| 1 to 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Over 5 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 7 |
This shows that the deaths from pneumonia are more evenly
distributed throughout the year for infants under one, and are
not as limited to the colder months as is the case of respiratory
disease at other ages.
Divided according to age and sex these cases occurred as
follows:—
| Under 1 month | 1 to 3 months | 3 to 6 months | 6 to 9 months | 9 to 12 months | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Females | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
This shows that they mostly occurred at those ages at which
weaning is usually practised.
Divided according to the time of the year they occurred
Jan. l, Feb. 1, March 2, May 1, June 2, July 1, August 2,
Novernber 3, i.e. no rise occurred during the summer months.
This is in accordance with the morbidity rate, there being
little evidence of enteritis or summer diarrhoea amongst the
babies. This low rate was accounted for mainly by the atmospheric
conditions obtaining last summer, viz. much rain and a
Persistently low temperature. In view however of the complaints
of the scavenging of the district and the methods of disposal
of house refuse the figure is interesting as the rate of mortality
from enteritis is intimately related to domestic insanitation.