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Infantile Mortality in Metropolitan Boroughs for the Years
1906 and 1907.
Deaths of Infants under One Year of Age to 1,000 Births.
1906.
1907.
Average,
1902-6.
Boroughs where Health Visitors are employed—
128
132
140
Kensington
138
117
140
Wandsworth
121
99
118
Woolwich
109
112
116
Boroughs where Health Visitors are partly employed—
130
159
Finsbury
160
Marylebone
117
101
130
St. Pancras
123
108
132
Boroughs where Health Visitors are not employed—
123
156
Bermondsey
153
Camberwell
130
115
131
Holborn
120
131
132
Lewisham
113
90
109
Paddington
105
109
118
Stepney
134
117
144
The mortality from measles is a little higher than last year,
there being 8 more deaths; St. George's showed a considerably
increased number, but in the other districts there was an improvement.
In the spring, as the disease appeared to be spreading, I
asked the Committee for instructions as regards the distribution of
bills; not, indeed, that I had any faith in this procedure, but I
wished to ascertain whether they intended to continue the practice
ordered in 1906. They decided to take no action in this direction.
Since last Easter routine disinfection after measles is no longer
carried out, and we only act on a special request being made by the
householder. A decided saving of expense has thereby occurred
without any observable increase in the prevalence of the disease. In
view of the fact that the mischief, so far as the spread is concerned,
is done before the nature of the illness is recognised, disinfection to
my mind could never have had any practical advantage.
There were 36 more deaths from hooping cough, and the
increase showed itself in all of the districts, but to the greatest
extent in the Camberwell division. The increase was indeed general
all over the metropolis, the number being 30 over the decennial
average. The prolonged duration and the extreme infective power
of this disease render it very intractable to direct preventive
measures, and it is only by impressing upon the community the
importance of care in avoiding complications that decrease in the
mortality is likely to result.
It is in the mortality from diarrhœa that the most noticeable
decline is found. In 1906 there were 224 deaths from diarrhœa,
Hammersmith
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