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
Heston and Isleworth 1919
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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10
Infant Mortality.
The figure obtained under this heading is regarded as a
valuable index of the sanitary conditions of a district. Furthermore,
as it is based on ascertained facts (i.e., the actual numbers of
births and infant deaths), it is more reliable than the death-rate
which is calculated on an estimated population. Taken as a whole
the infant death-rate (99 per 1000 births) is higher than that for
London (85) though not greatly in excess of the average for this
district during the five year period 1915-1919 (96.3).
From the undermentioned table, it will be seen that the rate of infant mortality varies in a significant manner from Ward to Ward:—
| Infant Death-rate per 1,000 births. | ||
|---|---|---|
| During 1919. | Average for 1915-1919. | |
| Heston | 89 | 74.6 |
| Hounslow North | 59 | 75.0 |
| Hounslow South | 105 | 109.6 |
| Isleworth North | 145 | 129.8 |
| Isleworth South | 99 | 83.4 |
| The whole district | 99 | 96.3 |
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Water Supply.
The water supply for the district is from the mains of the
Metropolitan Water Board; the quality of water has throughout
this year been good, and the service is a constant one.
42 houses in Heston Parish are supplied from the main of
the South-West Suburban Water Co.
There were, as far as is known, at the end of the year 39
private wells from which the water was used for domestic purposes.
In three other cases there are wells but an alternative
supply from the main exists for domestic purposes.
In 16 instances draw-taps were placed on the main to the
house, in compliance with notice from the Health Department, in
lieu of a supply drawn from an inaccessible and uncovered cistern.