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 1919
Annual report for 1919 of the Medical Officer of Health
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The following table shows the average Infantile Mortality Rates in 4-yearly periods for the Borough since 1901, also the average number of annual deaths in these periods of children one to five years of age:—
| Years. | Chelsea Infantile Mortality Rate. | Deaths 1 -5 years. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901-4 | 140 | 112 |
| 1905-8 | 119 | 88 |
| 1909-12 | 97 | 71 |
| 1913-16 | 87 | 56 |
| 1917-19 | 87 | 54 |
In the year 1915 there were 29 deaths of children between 1 and 5 years
from measles, and in 1918, 24 deaths from influenza. Having regard to
these facts, the large reduction both in infantile and child mortality in
Chelsea of recent years is very noteworthy, and may justly be attributed
very largely to the efforts made by the Borough Council and the Voluntary
Societies on behalf of infant and child welfare in the Borough.
The following table gives the Infantile Mortality Bates in Chelsea under various headings, for five 4-yearly periods:-
| 1901-4. | 1905-8. | 1909-12. | 1013-16. | 1917-19. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Diseases | 10.0 | 11.5 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Diarrhœal Diseases | 23.5 | 26.0 | 18.0 | 16.4 | 14.6 |
| Developmental Defects and Wasting | 48.0 | 37.0 | 34.5 | 28.2 | 33.5 |
| Other causes | 58.0 | 44.0 | 36.0 | 36.6 | 32.3 |
| Total Rate | 139.5 | 118.5 | 96.5 | 87.4 | 86.5 |
| Infections Diseases. | Diarrhoeaand Enteritis. | Tuberculosis. | Bronchitisand Pneumonia | Other . Causes. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901-5 | 36 | 7 | 15 | 27 | 18 | 103 |
| 1906-10 | 38 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 11 | 87 |
| 1911-15 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 62 |
| 1916-19 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 16 | 53 |
Housing of the Working Classes.
In June, 1919, I made an inspection with Chief Inspector Grant of
about 160 houses in the following streets:—Little Orford-street, Rawlingsstreet,
W. side, Orford-street, Wood-street, Leverett-street, Denyerstreet,
Green-street, S. side, Feltham-mews, Draycott-avenue, Francisstreet
and Oakham-street.
Of the 160 houses, between 40 and 50 were in fairly clean and tenantable
condition, and required little doing to them. Some 60 were dirty
and dilapidated, and more or less worn out by long usage and neglect,
Thirty, in addition to the 60 mentioned, had one or more dirty rooms.