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 1921
Annual report for 1921 of the Medical Officer of Health
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The following table gives the Infantile Mortality Rates in Chelsea under various headings, for five 4-yearly periods, and for 1921:—
| 1901-4 | 1905-8 | 1909-12 | 1913-16 | 1917-20 | 1921 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Diseases | 10.0 | 11.5 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 5.0 | 0.9 |
| Diarrhœal Diseases | 23.5 | 26.0 | 18.0 | 16.4 | 12.2 | 14.2 |
| Developmental Defects and Wasting | 48.0 | 37.0 | 34.5 | 28.2 | 31.9 | 36.0 |
| Other Causes | 58.0 | 44.0 | 36.0 | 36.6 | 28.9 | 27.4 |
| Total Rate | 139.5 | 118.5 | 96.5 | 87.4 | 78.0 | 78.5 |
| Wards. | Average of 9 years, 1912-20. | 1921. |
|---|---|---|
| Hans Town | 68 | 116 |
| Royal Hospital | 64 | 73 |
| Church | 92 | 82 |
| Cheyne | 64 | 56 |
| Stanley | 91 | 74 |
| Chelsea Borough | 81 | 78 |
| Infectious 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 |
| 1916-20 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 47 |
| 1921 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
Although the Infantile Mortality rate in 1921 (78.5) was considerably
higher than in 1920 (52), the number of deaths of children between one
and five years was only 18 as against 24 in 1920. The mortality in 1921
(18 deaths), is the lowest ever recorded in Chelsea.
Infectious and other Diseases.
Measles.
There were no deaths from Measles in Chelsea in 1921. In 1920
there were 8 deaths. The last considerable epidemic in Chelsea was
in 1915, when there were 39 deaths.
The Health Visitors in the course of the year made 12 visits to homes
in connection with Measles cases, as against 271 visits in 1920. There
was no occasion for the District Nurses' Association nurses to visit any
cases in 1921.