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
Lewisham 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham]
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The following epitome shows interesting comparisons with previous years and the average for five years:—
| Borough of Lewisham. | Year. | Average for five years, 1902-6. | Year. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | ||
| Birth Hate | 26.3 | 26.1 | 25.6 | 25.2 | 23.2 | 25.3 | 23.7 |
| Total Death Rate | 137 | 11.1 | 120 | 11.7 | 12.0 | 12.1 | 11.5 |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 122 | 92 | 122 | 93 | 113 | 108 | 90 |
| Zymotic Death Rate | 1.70 | 082 | 1.40 | 0.83 | 1.31 | 1.21 | 071 |
| Phthisis Death Rate | 1.06 | 0.78 | 0.84 | 0.87 | 0.80 | 0.87 | 0.90 |
| Notifiable Infeectious Diseases : Attack Rate | 9.68 | 6.09 | 3. 93 | 5 .88 | 608 | 6.33 | 6.50 |
The Public Health Committee recommended the
adoption of the Notification of Births Act, 1907, a measure
of extreme value in our attempts to lessen infant mortality.
Your Council, however, adjourned the consideration of
its adoption. The objections raised in many districts have
been overcome, and where the Act is in force notification of
birth is given without any friction. Seventeen Metropolitan
Borough Councils have now adopted the Act, and I trust your
Council will reconsider the question at an early opportunity.
I desire to draw special attention to the Education
(Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907, which provides for the
medical inspection of school children, and the memorandum issued
by the Board of Education in respect of the same, in which is
set out most clearly the scope of the Act. The memorandum
points out the new Act is not intended to supersede the