View report page

2
The notifications, therefore, formed 91 per cent, of the total births
registered in the Borough.
It is estimated that, on an average, 49 per cent, of the total births
are attended by medical practitioners in private practice or in institutions;
11 per cent, are attended by hospital students; and the
remaining 40 per cent, by midwives.
Deaths, Death-Rates, and Disease Prevalence.
The total number of deaths registered in the Borough was 1,983.
Of this number 1,124 were deaths within the Borough of nonparishioners;
and 225 deaths of parishioners occurred outside the
Borough. There were, therefore, 1,084 deaths of Chelsea residents, the
death-rate being 17.5 per 1,000, as against 13.3 in 1914, in which year,
however, no deduction was made for men of military age called up for
service with the Colours.
In 1915 there were a considerable number of deaths amongst
children under 5 years from measles and bronchitis; and amongst old
people over 65 years of age there was an increased mortality from
bronchitis, pneumonia and organic heart disease.
There were 107 deaths of infants under 1 year of age, equivalent
to an infant mortality rate of 100 per 1,000 births. In 1914 the rate was
only 67 per 1,000. During the year the homes of 647 recently born
infants were visited by the Woman Sanitary Inspector, who is also a
half-time Health Visitor. Ninety-one re-visits were made, and there were
246 miscellaneous calls at houses in connection with this work.
Measles caused 39 deaths in 1915, as compared with 1 only in 1914,
32 of the deaths occurring in the second quarter of the year. Nine of
the fatal cases were of infants under 1 year, 19 of children between 1 and
2 years, and 10 of children of 2 to 5 years. In addition, there were 31
deaths of infants under 1 year from bronchitis and pneumonia, and 14
deaths from the same diseases of children aged 1 to 2 years. Probably a
considerable number of these deaths from bronchitis and pneumonia were
the after effects of measles. During the year 416 children were excluded
from schools as suffering from measles, and 226 as contacts.
During the year 142 cases of scarlet fever were notified in Chelsea,
as against 281 in 1914. Five deaths were registered as due to scarlet
fever, which gives a case mortality of 3.7 per cent., as compared with 1.4
per cent, in 1914; 94 per cent. of the cases were removed to hospital.
There was no special incidence on any particular school in the Borough.
The percentage of cases of school age (3 to 13 years) was 64, as against
76 in 1914.
In 1915, 105 cases of diphtheria were notified in Chelsea, as compared
with 76 in 1914. The type of the disease was mild, 6 deaths only
being attributed to diphtheria, the case mortality being 6.4, as compared
with 10.5 per cent. in 1914. Until the latter end of September the
prevalence of the disease was very slight; but after this date there was
an increase, which tended, however, to subside in December. Of the
notified cases 89 per cent, were removed to hospital, as against 93 per
cent. in 1913. There was no special incidence on any school, and the
percentage of cases of school age (3 to 13 years) was 61, as against 58 in
1914.