London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Brentford 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford]
This page requires JavaScript
5
INFANT MORTALITY.
The rate of this mortality or the proportion of deaths under 1
year to every 1ooo births inside the town is 96.5. Last year it was
101.8 The average for the last 10 years is 119.5 so that it is 23 below
the average and is lower than in any year except 1912. If to the 45
deaths which occurred in the town under 1 year old we add 5 deaths
occurring outside the town, we get a total of 50 deaths, and a death rate
of 104 8 per thousand births inside and outside the town. In analysing
the causes of these deaths, I find 11 were born prematurely, 5 died
within a week of birth from debility, and 3 from congenital defects.
Diarrhoea caused 9 deaths and diseases of the respiratory organs, 6.
It is satisfactory to note that the infant mortality is again low which
is to be principally attributed to the cool summer, but I hope also in
some measure to the unceasing care and attention which now has been
paid for many years to housing, prevention of overcrowding and
instructions in the feeding and care of infants.
The following table gives the rate and average infant mortality for the last 10 years.
| 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | Average for 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "5 | 158.9 | 74.4 | "3 |
The following are the deaths from the principal zymotic
diseases.
SMALL POX—None.
MEASLES.—Nine.
SCARLET FEVER—One.
WHOOPING COUGH.—Three.
DIPHTHERIA AND MEMBRANOUS CROUP.—Seven.
TYPHUS FEVER—None.
ENTERIC FEVER—None.
DIARRHCEA AND ENTERITIS.—Ten.
The number of deaths from these 8 zymotic diseases has been
30 and the zymotic death rate is 1.7 per thousand which is exactly
the same as last year, and..4 below the average of the last 10 years.
In the last quarter of the year there was a very severe outbreak of
measles causing much distress and 9 deaths, and I must again point
out the necessity of keeping. the little patients warm in bed so as to
avoid having complications as far as possible. The 10 deaths from
diarrhoea, 4 of which occurred in September, is much too high
considering the cool summer, and too much care cannot be taken in
keeping feeding bottles in clean cold water when not in use, and
thoroughly washing them immediately after being used; also in
preventing flies from getting into the milk.