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
Greenwich 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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45
chromosomal abnormality, the infant mortality rate is unlikely to be
materially altered. Nevertheless, some progress has been made
within the last decade, for genetically determined deviations arising
from chromosomal excesses or deficiencies are becoming comparatively
easy for the expert to recognise as also are those involving
the sex chromosomes. Moreover, familial patterns can be traced
and the giving of advice and the suggestion as to suitable action to
be followed have now become practicable propositions. It is conceivable
that one of the future roles of local authorities' health
departments could be the establishment of "genetic clinics" where
investigations would be instigated and prospective parents counselled
accordingly.
Actual infant deaths recorded during the year were 73 (5 more
than last year) comprising 37 males and 36 females of which 69
occurred in hospital and 4 at home. The following table shows the
causes of and ages at death :
INFANTILE MORTALITY DURING THE YEAR 1967 Deaths from stated Causes in Weeks and Months under 1 Year of Age.
| cause of death | Under 1 week | 1—2 Weeks | 2—3 Weeks | 3—4 Weeks | Total under 1 Month | 1—3 Months | 3—6 Months | 6—9 Months | 9—12 Months | Total Deaths under One Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accidental (restriction of neck during resuscitation) | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Asphyxia neonatorum | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Atelectasis | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
| Birth trauma | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 3 |
| Bronchiolitis | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Bronchitis - acute | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| - acute tracheo | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 4 |
| Bronchopneumonia | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | 5 |
| Congenital abnormalities | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | 10 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 12 |
| Edwards Syndrome | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Gastro-enteritis | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Haemolytic Disease of Newborn (Rh incompatability) | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Hydrocephalus | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 |
| Intra-pulmonary haemorrhage | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Myocarditis - operation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Patent ductus arteriosus | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Pneumonia | — | 1 | — | —_ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 |
| Prematurity | 23 | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | — | — | — | 24 |
| Renal failure | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Respiratory Distress Syndrome | 4 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| Rhabdomyoma | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Sugar imbalance - intestinal | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Superior v. caval congestion | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | | |
| Supra-renal haematoma | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Volvulus | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| TOTALS | 42 | 7 | 1 | 50 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 73 |
Males 37
Females 36