London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Greenwich 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
14
A further reference to the Infantile Mortality Rate will be
found in the section devoted to Maternity and Child Welfare,
whilst a table showing the causes of death and ages is included in
the Appendix of the Report.
The following Table shows the comparative Infantile Mortality Rates for the quinquennial periods since 1931, together with the Rate for the years 1946, 1947 and 1948.
| District | Average for five years 1931-1935 | Average for five years 1936-1940 | Average for five years 1941-1945 | Year 1946 | Year 1947 | Year 1948 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | 75 | 50 | 40 | 34 | 26 | 26 |
| London | 63 | 56 | 60 | 41 | 37 | 31 |
| England & Wales | 62 | 55 | 50 | 43 | 41 | 34 |
REMARKS ON VARIOUS DEATH CAUSES.
Classification of Deaths.—It should be borne in mind
that the statistical data compiled locally relating to cause of death
may not agree entirely with the figures furnished to Local Authorities.
Classification of the cause of death is taken from one or more
causes as stated on the medical certificate in accordance with the
Rules generally adopted throughout England and Wales.
The Registrar-General is able in cases where it is deemed
desirable, to obtain fuller information from the certifying Practitioner.
This enables his Department to modify the original classification—hence
the possiblities of discrepancies in some cases
between the figures prepared locally and those referred by the
Registrar-General.
Common Infectious Diseases.—The class known as Common
Infectious Diseases, comprising Measles, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria,
Whooping Cough and Diarrhoea is credited with causing the total
of 4 deaths, equalling a Death Rate of .04 per thousand.
Small Pox.—There were no deaths from Small Pox, this
being the 46th year since a death occurred from this cause.
Measles.—There were no deaths arising from this cause during
the year as compared with one for the previous year. No deaths
were recorded for the years 1943, 1944 and 1945, but one was
registered for the year 1946.