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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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| Year | Road Traffic | Other Accidents | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in years | Age in years | All ages | ||||||||
| 0-4 | 5-14 | 15-64 | 65+ | All ages | 0-4 | 5-14 | 15-64 | 65+ | ||
| 1945 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 27 | ||
| 1946 | — | 2 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 32 |
| 1947 | — | — | 10 | 2 | 12 | 1 | — | 12 | 20 | 33 |
| 1948 | — | — | 8 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 28 |
| 1949 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 2 | — | 9 | 8 | 19 |
| 1950 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 26 |
| 1951 | - | — | 9 | 3 | 12 | — | 1 | 4 | 13 | 18 |
| 1952 | - | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | — | —. | 3 | 12 | 15 |
| 1953 | - | — | 9 | 8 | 17 | — | — | 5 | 15 | 20 |
| 1954 | - | 1 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 1 | - | 9 | 13 | 23 |
| Total | 3 | 10 | 78 | 41 | 132 | 15 | 6 | 76 | 144 | 241 |
During these ten years more children under the age of 15 years met accidental deaths than died
of diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough and poliomyelitis combined. Prevention of
accidents is the responsibility of every individual citizen. Care and attention in the home, in the factory
and on the roads by everyone is necessary if the tragic results of accidents are to be reduced.
Table III. In the following table, in the local infant mortality rate over 5 year periods from 1898 is shown:—
| No. of live births | No. of deaths under 1 year | Infant Mortality Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1898-1902 | 4,369 | 698 | 160 |
| 1903-1907 | 5,264 | 665 | 126 |
| 1908-1912 | 5,383 | 590 | 110 |
| 1913-1917 | 4,661 | 461 | 99 |
| 1918-1922 | 4,326 | 327 | 76 |
| 1923-1927 | 4,333 | 271 | 63 |
| 1928-1932 | 6,055 | 318 | 53 |
| 1933-1937 | 7,121 | 313 | 44 |
| 1938-1942 | 6,912 | 393 | 57 |
| 1943-1947 | 8,210 | 345 | 42 |
| 1948-1952 | 6,680 | 146 | 22 |
| 1953 | 1,268 | 23 | 18 |
| 1954 | 1,185 | 31 | 26 |
Figure I shows the trend in the Borough during the last 25 years of the infant mortality rate
(deaths under 1 year per 1,000 live births) the death rate at ages under 1 week per 1,000 live births
and the stillbirth rate (stillbirths per 1,000 total births). It will be seen that the fall in the infant
mortality rate has been brought about mainly by the saving of infant life at ages over one week. This
is illustrated again below :—
% of total
infant deaths 1930-34 1950-54
at age under 1 week 31.7 59.7
at age under 1 month 47.0 69.0
at ages 1 to 11 months 53.0 31.0
Now 60 per cent, of infant deaths occur before the babies are one week old.
The causes of infant mortality may be considered in two broad groups:—(a) infections
(pneumonia, gastro-enteritis, tuberculosis, etc.) and nutritional disorders (marasmus, rickets, etc.) and
(b) other causes of which the chief are prematurity, congenital malformations, birth asphyxia and birth
mjuries. The trend of these two groups is shown in Figure II.
I he decline is greater in deaths due to infection. Improved infant feeding and hygienic methods
should remove nutritional disorders and prevent gastro-enteritis. A break-down in these methods, such
as occurred in 1942, shows what a danger gastro-enteritis can be and point the need for continued care.
he main problem today is infections of the respiratory system. Improved housing and reduction of
overcrowding will help,' but improved mothercraft and a greater appreciation of the need to shield
young babies from infection are more likely to be effective.
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