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

Deptford 1913

Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford

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24
The number of births notified under the Notification of Births
Act during this period was 3131. 145 parents had to be written to on
account of the failure to comply with the Act, and in 19 of these cases
a second letter was necessary, making a total of 164 letters sent.

Table: In the following table, information will be found with regard to the births notified in the different wards, together with the sex, whether born alive or dead, and by whom the birth was notified:—

In the following table, information will be found with regard to the births notified in the different wards, together with the sex, whether born alive or dead, and by whom the birth was notified:—

Ward.Births Notified.Alive.Dead.By whom Notified.
Total.Males.FemalesParent.Doctor,Midwife.Other Person.
East08837731166919989748211
North7803973837621823321529933
Nth-west7624113517392326323623726
South2181181002108143382314
Sth-East3091511583027125531247
Sth-West3742111633659178551329
Total31311665146630478410406941297100

Table: Details as to the feeding of the babies visited is given below. "Mixed feeding" means both breast and hand-fed.

Details as to the feeding of the babies visited is given below. "Mixed feeding" means both breast and hand-fed.

Wards.Breast Feeding.Mixed Feeding.Hand FeedingTotals.
East4993155585
North6373537709
North-West5994155695
South8231196
South-East214815237
South-West1901615221
22211341882543

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Health Visitors and the Home.
It may truthfully be said that hygiene, like charity, should begin at
home. The most elaborate and well-designed municipal administration,
however carefully carried out, will be of no avail if the hygiene of the
house is neglected. A simple illustration supports this contention.
Milk may be produced under the best possible conditions and supplied
to the consumer in sterilised bottles, but all the care taken to ensure a
perfect supply will be rendered nugatory if the milk when in the house
is placed where it can become contaminated ; or again, the builder of a
house may be compelled to place a fireplace in each room, but the
object in view, that of providing efficient ventilation, will be ineffectual