London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Dagenham 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]

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60
Infant Mortality.
145 deaths (89 male, 56 female) of infants under one year of
age occurred, being an infant mortality rate of 67.4 compared with
60 for the country as a whole, and 67.7 for last year. The rate
amongst legitimate children is 68.0, and illegitimate 288.

The following table analyses the causcs of death occurring in the first months :—

Disease.Under I day.1-7 days.1 weck-1 month.1-3 months.
MFMFMFMF
Prematurity8722
Debility, etc.216142
Abnormalities2222123
Cerebral Hasm.11
Chest conditions—_5265
Enteritis1142
Marasmus1213
Total11111161791911

Nco-natal deaths, that is, those occurring within the first
month after birth, accounted for 65 deaths (male 39, female 20),
providing by themselves an infant mortality rate of 30.2 or 44
Percent. of the total infant mortality rate.
The vast majority of these arc due to failure of adaptation to
new surroundings, in many eases due to premature birth. Deaths
warning shortly after birth arc apparently described indiscrininately
as "deficient inherent vitality," "atelectasis," "congenital
debility " or frequently " prematurity." Of the 18 deaths
occurring within a few hours' of birth, in nearly all, labour was
premature, though in most eases with no obvious cause for the early
onset of labour. In two cases the onset was attributable to shock,
and in one patient it was induced. Two deaths were due to antepartum
haemorrhage, and in one case the child was one of twins of
the other child was stillborn.
Of the deaths occurring in the first seven days after birth, 9
similarly classified. In 6 of these, labour was premature, one
following an antepartum hæmorrhage. Two sets of twins died in
this Period. Five survived varying periods up to three weeks, but
finally died, death in these cases being ascribed to " debility." In