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
Lewisham 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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The number of infants who died in the first 4 weeks of life was 58, and the causes of death were as follows:—
| Prematurity | 28 |
| Atelectasis | 6 |
| Bronchitis | 4 |
| Gastro-enteritis | 4 |
| Congenital Deformity | 3 |
| Broncho-pneumonia | 3 |
| Umbilical Hæmorrhage | 2 |
| Meningitis | 1 |
| Icterus Neonatorum | 1 |
| Suprarenal Hæmorrhage | 1 |
| Pulmonary „ | 1 |
| Cerebral ,, | 1 |
| Congenital Heart Disease | 1 |
| Asphyxia | 1 |
| Toxaemia | 1 |
Investigations were made into the circumstances of the 97 stillbirths
and 58 Neo-natal deaths. It was found that:—
11 mothers received no ante-natal care.
22 mothers received some ante-natal care from their own
doctor.
22 mothers received some ante-natal care from their own
midwives.
85 mothers attended a Hospital Clinic.
15 mothers attended one of the Borough Ante-natal Clinics.
The total number of still-births and Neo-natal deaths for 1937
is 159, and though this figure is lower than last year's it should be
possible to lower it considerably, as a large proportion of the causes
of death are preventable.