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
Plumstead 1898
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health, 1898
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5
usual amount of sunshine. The weather of these quarters was
favourable to health. The warm summer on the other hand
was unfavourable.
5. The highest number of deaths was in the first quarter,
when Influenza prevailed, aud the next highest in the third
or summer quarter, when Diarrhoea was so fatal (see Table II.)
6. Infant Mortality.—The number of deaths under 1 year
per 1,000 births, 156, was higher than in any year since
1885. The previous highest number was 140 in 1893. The
excess of deaths under 1 year was mainly from Diarrhoea,
Measles, Whooping Cough, and Bronchitis. Many of the deaths
attributed to Bronchitis are probably really caused by Measles,
Whooping Cough, and Influenza.
Table B.
7. Deaths under 1 year per 1,000 births:—
| West. | East. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1893 | 132 | 143 |
| 1894 | 77 | 100 |
| 1895 | 96 | 146 |
| 1896 | 98 | 145 |
| 1897 | 106 | 119 |
| 1898 | 174 | 150 |
Table B shews that the infantile mortality was, for the first
time since 1893, higher in West Plumstead than in East.
Table II. shews that children under 5 years suffered more in
West Plumstead in proportion to population from Whooping
Cough and Bronchitis, and there were more cases of Premature
Birth in West than East Plumstead.
8. The death-rate from the principal Zymotic Diseases
(Small Pox, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Enteric Fever, Measles,