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
Kensington 1925
The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1925
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Table 3. CAUSES OF AND AGES AT, DEATH OF INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE IN KENSINGTON DURING 1925.
| Causes of Death. | Under 1 week. | 1—2 weeks. | 2—3 weeks | 3—4 weeks. | Total 4 weeks. | 1—3 months. | 3—6 months. | 6—9 months. | 9—12 months. | Total Infant Deaths under 1 year. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Common Infectious Diseases (Measles 4) (Whooping Cough 10) (Diphtheria 1) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
| 2. Tuberculosis | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 |
| 3. Pneumonia and Bronchitis | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 5 | 11 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 62 |
| 4. Enteritis | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | — | 22 |
| 5. Syphilis | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 6. Complications of Birth (Injury 4) (Atelectasis 5) | 9 | - | - | - | 9 | - | - | - | - | 9 |
| 7. Congenital Malformation | — | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 8 |
| 8. Premature Birth | 36 | — | 1 | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | 37 |
| 9. Atrophy, Debility and Marasmus | 15 | 1 | 4 | — | 20 | 9 | 7 | 1 | — | 37 |
| 10. Other Diseases (Meningitis 5) (Convulsions 3) (Gastritis 1) (Overlying 2) (Other Conditions 19) | 8 | 2 | — | 3 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 30 |
| Totals | 69 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 87 | 39 | 54 | 26 | 17 | 223 |
| Death-rate in each age period per 1,000 births | 242 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 30.5 | 13.7 | 18.9 | 9.1 | 5.9 | 78 |
| Percentage of total infant deaths occurring in each age period | 30.9 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 39.0 | 17.4 | 24.2 | 11.6 | 7.6 |
The above three tables must be considered together in order to arrive at a correct solution of
the tale they tell. In the first place, it will be observed from Tables 1 and 2 that the infantile
death rate in 1925 was higher in Kensington than in London and the rest of England and Wales,
but this has not been unusual in the past. The Council will, however, be more concerned in finding
that the rate is higher than it was in Kensington in 1924 and 1923. It is true that with the exception
of these two years, it is the lowest Kensington infantile death rate on record but, nevertheless,
any increase on the previous year must make the Council enquire whether they are getting an
adequate return in improved health for the efforts they have made in connection with Maternity
and Child Welfare and Housing Work. It is with a view to answering the question that the above
tables have been grouped together, for I think it will be possible to show to the satisfaction of
members of the Council and the many ladies and gentlemen interested in the Maternity and Child
Welfare Movement that the increased rate does not reflect adversely on the efficiency of the work