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
Chelsea 1912
Annual report for 1912 of the Medical Officer of Health
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Table XI.—Mortality Rates per 1,000 Births, 1901-4, 1905-8, 1909-12.
| 1901-4. | 1905-8. | 1909-12. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Diseases | 10•0 | 11•5 | 8•0 |
| Diarrhceal Diseases | 23•5 | 26•0 | 18•0 |
| Developmental Defects and Wasting | 48•0 | 37•0 | 34•5 |
| Other Causes | 58•0 | 44•0 | 36•0 |
| Total Rate | 139•5 | 118•5 | 96•5 |
This Table shows that the recent drop in the Infantile Mortality
Eate has affected all the chief divisions of mortality, even such causes as
Premature Birth and Developmental Defects showing a diminution of
mortality in recent years.
Table XII.
| Year. | Chelsea. | London. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths under one to 1,000 births. | Deaths 1—5 years. | Deaths under one to 1,000 births. | Deaths 1—5 years. | |||||
| 1901 | 139 | 146 | 101 | 112 | 150 | 142 | 9,514 | 9,209 |
| 1902 | 145 | 151 | 141 | 9,893 | ||||
| 1903 | 144 | 94 | 131 | 8,514 | ||||
| 1904 | 155 | 102 | 145 | 8,915 | ||||
| 1905 | 116 | 121 | 65 | 88 | 131 | 124 | 8,209 | 8,122 |
| 1906 | 140 | 122 | 133 | 8,639 | ||||
| 1907 | 122 | 101 | 118 | 8,435 | ||||
| 1908 | 108 | 64 | 115 | 7,207 | ||||
| 1909 | 107 | 98 | 85 | 71 | 107 | 107 | 7,555 | 6,928 |
| 1910 | 102 | 63 | 102 | 6,807 | ||||
| 1911 | 112 | 77 | 128 | 7,804 | ||||
| 1912 | 70 | 57 | 92 | 5,544 | ||||
The year 1912 was remarkable for its low summer temperature, and
the almost complete absence of summer diarrhœa amongst infants. The
drop in the infantile mortality rate from 112 in 1911 to only 70 in 1912
is a remarkable one, and although to some extent attributable to the
diminished fatality from diarrhœal diseases, is not wholly accounted for
by this fact. There was also a considerable diminution in the deaths due
to debility and wasting and to congenital defects.
The attention paid to newly-born infants by the Lady Sanitary
Inspector and by the Lady Visitors of the Chelsea Health Society, and the
advice and practical assistance given to the mothers by the home visits
and by the weekly "infant consultations" held under the management
of the Health Society, is evidently becoming more and more effective in
the saving of the lives of many infants who would formerly have died
before reaching the end of their first year. This saving of life is
undoubtedly accompanied by a saving of health to many infants who
survive the first year, but who formerly suffered in strength and physique
as the result of preventable illness.