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
Erith 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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Analysis of the causes of death of this age group reveals the following figures : —
| Deaths from | 1936 | 1937 |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia | 7 | 7 |
| Whooping Cough | 2 | — |
| Bronchitis | 1 | — |
| Neo-Natal | 14 | 3 |
| Other causes | 6 | 4 |
| Gastro-Enteritis | — | 4 |
| 30 | 18 |
I have included a table showing the Infant Mortality at 5 year intervals for the past 25 years and for 1937.
| Erith | England and Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 70.91 | 130 |
| 1915 | 73.17 | 91 |
| 1920 | 61.5 | 83 |
| 1925 | 56.48 | 75 |
| 1930 | 61.05 | 66 |
| 1935 | 40.0 | 59 |
| 1937 | 46.28 | 58 |
A(7). Natural and Social Conditions of the Area.
Erith is situated south of the river Thames, adjoining the
County of London on the West and the Urban Districts of
Crayford on the East, and Bexley on the South.
A large number of the population are employed in the
several large factories, situate in the neighbourhood. The
principal industries being Cable Making, Oil Refining, and the
manufacture of Mining and Electrical Machinery, Asbestos and
Cement Slabs.
The District has a frontage to the river of about 6 miles.
The northern part lying alongside the river, is mostly below
the level of high tide in the river, and is marshy. The southern
portion rises fairly rapidly to about 200 feet above sea level,