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 1896
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Parish]
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24
per 1,000 births. In the several sanitary districts the deaths
and death-rate of infants under one year, were as follows:—
North
Kensington.
South
Kensington
North 191 deaths equal to 183 per 1,000 births.
North-east 129 deaths equal to 174 per 1,000 births.
North-west 189 deaths equal to 281 per 1,000 births.
Central 40 deaths equal to 128 per 1,000 births.
South-east 40 deaths equal to 109 per 1,000 births.
South-west 67 deaths equal to 150 per 1,000 births.
In the "Notting Dale" special area the deaths of infants
under one year were 51, and equal to 432 per 1,000 registered
births.
Causes of Infantile Deaths.—The causes of the deaths of infants under one year of age, in 1896, may be summarised as follows:—
| Causes of Death. | Number of Deaths in Sub-Districts. | In whole Parish. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town. | Brompton. | ||
| Diseases of the Zymotic Class | 121 | 9 | 130 |
| „ „ Respiratory System | 106 | 13 | 119 |
| „ „ Digestive System | 59 | 9 | 68 |
| „ „ Nervous System | 52 | 10 | 62 |
| Tubercular Diseases | 27 | ... | 27 |
| Prematurity | 65 | 14 | 79 |
| Wasting Diseases | 74 | 10 | 84 |
| Violence | 22 | ... | 22 |
| Other Causes | 52 | 13 | 65 |
| Total | 578 | 78 | 656 |
Parentage of the Deceased Infants.—Few infants
comparatively, died in the families of well-to-do persons able to
bestow requisite care upon their progeny. On the other hand,
the deaths were numerous amongst the children born to persons
occupying the lower strata in the social scale. The following
statement will probably surprise those who are accustomed to
regard Kensington as a city of the rich.