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 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The infant death rate was 64 per 1,000 births, which
is the second lowest in the history of the borough, the lowest
rate being 60 in 1926.- This figure is not entirely due to
evacuation for the rate for the period Ist January to the 31st
August was 67, which is lower than in previous years.
Causes of Deaths of Infants Under One Year of Age In Kensington During 1929?
| Whooping cough | 4 |
| Diphtheria. | 1 |
| Influenza,. | 1 |
| Tubercu osis | 1 |
| Bronchitis. | 3 |
| Pneumonia | 19 |
| Diarrhoea. | 22 |
| Digestive diseases. | 1 |
| Congenital malformatipn, debility, etc | 65 |
| Violence, | 7 |
| Other defined diseases | 5 |
| Total | 129 |
Maternal Mortality.
There were six deaths resulting from pregnancy end
childbirth amongst Kensington women during 1939, which give a
maternal mortality rate for the borough of 3.0 per 1,000.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA.
Bacteriological Work.
The work perforated at the council's laboratory during the year was as follows:-
| Disease suspected. | Examinations. | Positive. |
| Diphtheria | 3,134 | 14 |
| Scarlet fever. | 22 | 6 |
| Tuberculosis | 687 | 47 |
| Typhoid fever blood | 4 | – |
| ,, urine) | 3 | – |
| ,, faeces) | 71 | – |
| Dysentery (Sonne) (faeces) | 126 | 4 |
| Gonorrhoea | 8 | – |
The following examinations were also carried out:-.
| Milk, general test | 109 |
| Milk, for tubercle bacilli | 12 |
| Virulence tests. | 16 |
| Water from public swimming baths | 31 |
| Water from wells, etc | 31 |
| Miscellaneous. | 19 |
Professional Nursing in the Home.
On behalf of the borough council, the Kensington district
nursing association visited 325 cases, paying 5,081 visits. The
total number of cases nursed during the year was 1,404, and the
total number or visite paid was 36,103.