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

Paddington 1870

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington]

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9
consumptive case has occurred in the same household,
it has appeared to the ordinary observers to have been
caught from the sick person; a belief entertained by
many old writers—the true cause being an endemic
one arising from the ill-ventilation and re-breathing of
bad air in bed-rooms, shops or factories.
Infantile Mortality.

Table: TABLE III.The following Table shows the Annual, Quarterly, and Comparative Mortality among children under 5 years:—

TABLE III.

The following Table shows the Annual, Quarterly, and Comparative Mortality among children under 5 years:—

Causes of Death.April May JuneJuly Aug. Sept.Oct. Nov. Dec.January February MarchIn the Year.Comparative Mortality in 1000 living.
1870.1869.1868.
Small Pox and Varicella......1670 071...0.02
Measles84213270.2790.240.14
Scarlatina1728279810.8360.870.33
Diptheria, Croup, &c.2462140.1440.100.14
Whooping Cough1791126630.6590.530.40
Erysipelas......2130.0310.06
Fevers, Infanticide, &c.......2130.0310.020.11
Diarrhoea, Cholera, &c45548710.7330.651.01
Respiratory Organs381442541481.5291.331.11
Tubercular Diseases315016321291.3321.241.16
Nervous System1411178500.5160.470.77
Violent Deaths5788280.2896.240.27
Other Diseases352736361341.3831.331.20
Totals1712091742047587.8337.086.66

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The mortality amongst children under 5 years of
age, including the infantile deaths, form a large proportion
of all the deaths; 758—being more than one-third
or 39.7 of the deaths from all causes. This is very high
indeed. Last year, diseases of the respiratory organs,
bronchitis and pneumonia, carried off 148, not including
whooping cough, 63 more; the tubercular or wasting