London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Paddington 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
This page requires JavaScript
40
mortality of childhood.
TABLE 28.
"Hopeless Births."
| Days. | Weeks. | Month. | Total. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0— | 1— | 2— | 3— | 4— | 5- | 6— | 1— | 2— | 3— | 1—2 | m. | f. | p. | ||||||||||||
| m. | f. | m. | f. | m. | f. | m. | f. | m. | f. | m. | f. | m. | f. | m. | f. | m. | f. | M. | f. | m. | f. | ||||
| Not certified | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | — | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Diarrhoea | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Premature Birth | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | 2 | - | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 16 | 39 |
| Congenital Defects. | 1 | — | - | 1 | - | - | — | — | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | - | — | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Injury at Birth | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | - | - | — | — | - | - | — | - | - | - | - | — | — | — | — | - | — | - | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Want of Breast Milk | — | — | - | — | - | - | — | — | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | — | 1 | — | — | - | - | - | 1 | — | 1 |
| Atrophy, Debility | — | — | - | — | - | - | — | — | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Atelectasis | 2 | 4 | - | — | - | - | — | — | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | — | — | - | — | - | - | — | 4 | 6 | |
| Debility at Birth | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | - | — | 1 | - | - | - | - | — | - | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | - | - | 2 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| Syphilis | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Convulsions | — | — | 1 | — | — | - | 1 | — | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | - | - | - | — | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Respiratory Diseases | — | — | — | — | — | - | — | — | — | - | - | - | — | - | - | — | 1 | — | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Suffocation (Overlaid) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Other causes | — | — | — | - | — | — | — | — | - | l | - | - | - | — | 1 | — | - | l | - | - | - | — | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| All Causes | 16 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 3 | l | 3 | 4 | 2 | l | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 46 | 104 |
Comparing the 348 deaths of last year (Table VII., Appendix A.) with the average
number for the five years 1903-07 (not corrected for the reduced numbers of births), it appears
that the former figure represents a saving of 39 lives, 20 of male and 19 of female. On
grouping the deaths according to ages (see below) it is found that at ages under one month
there were 8 more deaths last year than the average, viz., 205 deaths, 1908; 197, 1903-07.
The whole of the decrease in mortality occurred among children surviving the first month of life.
| 1908. | 1903-07. | Lives gained (—). Lost ( + ). | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| Under one month | 66 | 58 | +0 | + 6 | ||
| Aged 1-3 months | 50 | 31 | +4 | —2 | ||
| Under 3 months | 116 | 89 | +4 | + 4 | ||
| Aged 3-6 „ | 38 | 29 | —7 | —8 | ||
| 6-9 „ | 20 | 15 | —13 | —9 | ||
| 9-12 „ | 24 | 17 | —4 | —6 | ||
Examining the causes of death it will be found that the numbers of deaths from all the
groups of diseases, except the "Wasting Diseases" (premature birth, malformations, &c.),
were lower last year than during the preceding quinquenninm. The diminution in the
numbers of deaths from the " Diarrhceal Diseases" * is gratifying and may be accepted as some
evidence of the benefits accruing from the health visiting which has been accomplished during
the past few years.
*A Special Report on Infantile Diarrhoea will be found under Appendix B. at the end of this Report.