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
Paddington 1903
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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infantile mortality. 39
The two first disorders represent the " summer diarrhoea" of infants. From them there
were 62 deaths (at ages under 1 year) last year, as compared with 119 in 1901 and 62 in
1902. The "summer diarrhoea" of infants is mainly prevalent during the third quarter of the
year and peculiarly dependent on temperature and rainfall. The deaths recorded during that
quarter of the last three years are tabulated below together with the records of temperature
andjjrainfall (Greenwich Observatory).
Summer Diarrhcea. Infants under 1 year of age. Temperatures
| Weeks. | Deaths recorded. | Of Air. | Earth at 3ft. | Rainfall in. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. | Mean. | |||||
| 1-4 | 1903 | 5 | 87.5 | 63.3 | 61.17 | 5.27 |
| 1902 | 5 | 86.1 | 61.5 | 60.25 | 1.15 | |
| 1901 | 19 | 87.9 | 64.6 | 62.50 | 2.35 | |
| 5-9 | 1903 | 13 | 82.0 | 60.0 | 60.51 | 5.66 |
| 1902 | 18 | 79.0 | 59.3 | 59.80 | 2.57 | |
| 1901 | 69 | 84.2 | 62.6 | 63.19 | 2.32 | |
| 10-13 | 1903 | 13 | 70.7 | 56.0 | 57.02 | 1.39 |
| 1902 | 35 | 75.1 | 56.5 | 57.22 | 2.19 | |
| 1901 | 16 | 76.9 | 57.8 | 60.21 | 1.35 | |
| Whole Quarter. | 1903 | 31 | 87.5 | 59.8 | 60.17 | 12.32 |
| 1902 | 58 | 86.1 | 59.1 | 59.68 | 5.91 | |
| 1901 | 94 | 87.9 | 61.8 | 62.06 | 6.02 | |
Comparing 1901 with 1903, the two years of greatest contrast, it will be seen that,
although there was no great difference between the maximal temperatures recorded in each
year, yet the mean air temperature and the mean temperature of the earth, at a depth of
3ft., were in each case higher in 1901 than in 1903. On the other hand, the rainfall in 1903
was for the whole quarter, and for two out of the three sub-divisions thereof, more than
twice the amount recorded in 1901. This last factor was probably the efficient cause of
the lowered mortality from diarrhoea.
The necessary data are not available for comparing the mortality from this cause among
infants in other districts. The rates given in Tables 15 and 16 are calculated on the populations
of all ages. In Table 15, it will be seen that Westminster (0.30) and Hampstead (0.10)
had lower rates than the Borough (0.44). According to Table 16, the local rate was (0.57),
and was exceeded only by that of the Metropolis (0.63), and that of the " 76 Great Towns"
(0.71), but it is probable that the local rate, being that calculated by the Department, is
based on a figure not strictly comparable with those used for the other rates.
Comparing the rates for last year (per 1,000 persons of all ages) with the various mean
rates, it is found that all were markedly below the means, as may be seen from below:—
Diarrhœal Diseases.
Rates per 1,000 Persons of all Ages.
Mean Rates.
1903
Borough 0.57
St. Mary 0.63
St. John 0.08
North-West Paddington 0.59
————
F ive years.
1893.97
0.96
1.10
0.43
1.30
Five years.
1898.1902
1.08
1.27
0.44
1.25
Ten years.
1893.1902
1.02
1.18
0.43
1.27