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

Wimbledon 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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Of the thirty-two children under one year who died, the
cause of death in eleven cases was prematurity and debility.
Three died as the result of congenital defects. One death was
due to measles, two to pneumonia, eight to broncho-pneumonia.
Infantile diarrhoea was responsible for three deaths.
The Infantile Death Rate for illegitimate children in
Wimbledon was 93.75 per thousand illegitimate live births.
The following table shows the causes of death, and ages
at death, of infants under one year:—

Table: Infantile Mortality during the Year 1938.

Infantile Mortality during the Year 1938.

Causes of Death.Under 1 week.1-2 Weeks.2-3 Weeks.3-4 Weeks.Total under 4 weeks.1-3 Months.3-6 Months.6-9 Months.9-12 Months.Total Deaths under One Year.
Measles.....................1...1
Pneumonia.........111.........2
Broncho-Pneumonia1.........133...18
Gastro-Enteritis1.........11...1...3
Pyloric Stenosis.........11............1
Prematurity91......10............10
Atelectasis1.........1............1
Malpresentation2.........2............2
Congenital Defects11......2......1...3
Other Causes.........11............1
Total152...320533132

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Neo-natal Mortality.
Twenty deaths occurred amongst infants during the first
four weeks of life. This is equal to a mortality rate of 28.65
per thousand total live births.
Eleven of these deaths were due to prematurity and
debility, one to gastro-enteritis, two to congenital defects,
two to malpresentation, and one to other causes.
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