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 1898
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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The 468 deaths were distributed as follows:—
| Heston and Isleworth | 399 |
| Union (resident) | 36 |
| Mogden Hospital | 1 |
| Cottage Hospital (residents) | 5 |
| „ „ (non-residents) | 3 |
| Barracks | 9 |
| Wyke House | 1 |
| Nazareth House | 7 |
| Gumley House | 2 |
| Gunnersbury House | 5 |
| Total 468 |
Infantile Mortality.
The number of deaths under the age of one year was 146.
Excluding the deaths of non-residents at the Union the number was
141, giving the rate of Infantile Mortality as 172.58 per 1000 births.
The rates of infantile mortality for the past five years are as follows:—
| 1898 | 172.58 |
| 1897 | 131.68 |
| 1896 | 150.63 |
| 1895 | 125 |
| 1894 | 174 |
41.84 per cent. of infantile deaths were due to Diarrhoea and Tabes Mesenterica
(Consumption of the Bowels), 49 deaths being attributed to the
former disease and 10 to the latter.
Of Diarrhoea I shall have something to say later on, when I treat of the
Zymotic diseases, but I do not think it is out of place here to call your
attention to the mortality from tubercular affections and especially
from Tabes Mesenterica.
During the year 20 deaths were registered as having been caused by
Tuberculosis in some form or other, 16 having occurred under 5 years of
age. Of these 16 deaths, 10 were under the age of 1 year and they help to
swell the rate of Infantile Mortality, a rate which I know you, in common
with every one else who takes any interest in the public welfare, would
like to see sensibly diminished.