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
East Ham 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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The following table gives the rate of infantile mortality and other allied statistics for each Ward in the Borough for 1914:—
| Borough. | Beckton & North Wlwich. | Central Eat. | Central West. | Manor Park. | Plashet East. | Plashet West. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 146,526 | 16,724 | 25,914 | 27,543 | 30,280 | 20,221 | 25,844 |
| Births | 3,436 | 494 | 623 | 627 | 762 | 458 | 472 |
| Birthrate | 23.5 | 29.6 | 24.1 | 22.7 | 25.2 | 22.6 | 18.3 |
| Deaths | 1,528 | 188 | 238 | 287 | 357 | 202 | 256 |
| Death-rate | 10.4 | 11.2 | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 9.9 | 9.9 |
| Deaths under 1 year | 267 | 35 | 53 | 45 | 76 | 24 | 34 |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 77 | 71 | 85 | 72 | 99 | 52 | 72 |
| Death - rate per 1,000 births from Diarrhœal diseases | 18 | 12 | 22 | 10 | 33 | 15 | 8 |
Although the Infantile Mortality is slightly higher than in
1913 the rate is still low and is one of the lowest in the United
Kingdom, being 77 per 1,000 as compared with 105 for England
and Wales and 113 for the 97 great towns.
Methods for Preventing Infantile Mortality in the Borough.
The adoption of the Notification of Births Act has been
justified by the results obtained, the Infantile Mortality rate having
fallen from 119 per 1,000 in 1911 to 77 in 1914.
Of the 3,436 registered Births 2,798 were notified as required
by the Council.
There is no doubt that the appointment of a Health Visitor
has done much towards this reduction, but in a borough of this
size, to carry out the work as it should be done, it is necessary to
appoint several more Health Visitors, as one can only visit a
small percentage of the cases notified.
A large number attend the Infants' Clinic at the old Public
Offices in Wakefield Street, but it is necessary for visits to be
made to the homes of those who do not attend.