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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 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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MORTALITY OF CHILDHOOD.
37
Combining the ages in trimestral periods, it is found that last year's deaths at each period were below the average, except in the first among boys.
| 1907. | 1902-06. | Lives gained (—). Lost ( +). | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| Under one month | 83 | 46 | +16 | —7 | ||
| Aged 1-3 months | 47 | 35 | + 1 | +2 | ||
| Under 3 months | 130 | 81 | +17 | —5 | ||
| Aged 3-6 „ | 36 | 21 | —12 | —16 | ||
| 6-9 „ | 32 | 18 | —6 | —8 | ||
| 9-12 „ | 21 | 15 | —8 | —11 | ||
Causes of Death.—Comparing the numbers of deaths from the causes, arranged in five
groups, with the averages, two groups—viz., "diarrhœal diseases" and "other causes"—
show reductions on the male side, and three—viz., the two already mentioned and "wasting diseases"—on the female.
The greatest changes are the saving of 19 and 26 lives respectively of boys and girls under "diarrhœal diseases," and of 12 girls under "other causes," and the loss of 10 lives among boys under "wasting diseases."
| 1907. | 1902-06. | Lives gained (—). Lost (+). | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. |
| I.—"Common Infectious Diseases" | 15 | 16 | +1 | +2 | ||
| II.—"Diarrhœal Diseases" | 35 | 14 | —19 | —26 | ||
| III.—"Wasting Diseases" | 85 | 46 | +10 | —7 | ||
| IV.—"Tubercular Diseases" | 12 | 10 | +2 | +3 | ||
| V.—Other causes | 72 | 49 | —3 | —12 | ||
Expressing the foregoing figures as mortalities (per 1,000 births registered in each period)
and thereby eliminating all ambiguity arising from the differences in the numbers of births, it
is found (see below) that among males last year's rates for the second and last groups
of diseases were the only two below the averages, while among females lower rates were recorded for the second, third and last.
Calculating the percentage of all deaths due to each group of diseases, it is found that the percentages from the second group (both sexes) are the only two below the proportions for 1902-06.
| Mortalities. | Percentages. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907. | 1902-06. | 1907. | 1902-06. | |||||
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| I.—"Common Infectious Diseases" | 9.45 | 10.75 | 6.8 | 11.8 | ||||
| II.—"Diarrhœal Diseases" | 22.06 | 9.40 | 16.0 | 10.4 | ||||
| III.—"Wasting Diseases" | 53.59 | 30.91 | 38.8 | 34.1 | ||||
| IV.—"Tuberculous Diseases | 7.56 | 6.72 | 5.5 | 7.4 | ||||
| V.—Other Causes | 43.59 | 32.91 | 32.9 | 36.3 | ||||
The appended tabular statement of rates for the two decennial periods 1877-86 and
1897-06 and for last year, for certain of the diseases included in Table VII. Appendix, shows
the changes which have taken place in the incidence of mortality during the last thirty
years. The increase in the rate from premature birth is very marked, and, had the sexes
been separated, would have been still more striking for males. The reduction in the rate
for diarrhoea is very satisfactory, but, having regard to the unusually low temperatures
which prevailed during the summer, it would be unwise to lay too much emphasis on that
reduction.