London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Paddington 1913

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

This page requires JavaScript

92 mortality in childhood.
In Westbourne Ward the elimination of the "Alfred Road" Area raised the rate for the
"Rest of the Ward" last year, but in the other instances the rate for the " Rest of the Ward"
was lowered. (See below.) In that Ward the rate for the "Rest" was higher than the 1912
rate and the average. In Maida Vale Ward the rate for the "Rest" was lower last year than
in 1912 and the average.

Infantile Mortality.

Wards.I.—Queen's Park.III.—Maida Vale.IV.—Westbourne.V.—Church.
1913.1912.1908-12.1913.1912.1908-12.1913.1912. 1908-12.1913.1912.1908-12.
Whole Ward1129294759897. 12492 113139134141
Special Area(s)115102891299912710599 124148153151
Rest of Ward1077110863988913289 10910988112

The total mortality for the combined "Areas" was 133 per 1,000 births, as compared with
85 in the "Rest of the Borough." The comparison of the mortality rates from the various
selected causes of death given in Table 50 shows that measles, whooping cough, diarrhoea,
congenital defects, atelectasis, and the respiratory diseases were the factors giving rise to the
higher mortality.
At ages under one month (Table 50) the mortality in the "Areas" (28.14 per 1,000 births)
was less than that recorded in the "Rest of the Borough" (3319). At ages 1-3 months the
mortality in the "Areas" was more than double than in the other parts of the Borough, and
ages 3-6 months nearly three times. Looking at the age distribution of mortality in the areas,
and the mortality from the developmental diseases (the result of ante-natal paternal causes
rather than of environment), there is good reason for thinking that the high mortality in
the "Areas" is not the result of inherited debility, but of parental ignorance and, to a less extent,
of environment. Individually the children born in the "Areas" are as well, if not better, fitted
to survive to adult life than are (on an average) the children born in other parts of the Borough.
At Ages One to Five Years.
For the purpose of measuring the mortality at these ages the numbers of survivors at each
age are taken out annually. Last year it was estimated—at the beginning of the year—that there
were 10,404 children aged from 1-5 years in the Borough among whom 174 deaths were recorded
during the succeeding twelve months. By the use of survivors and not estimated populations at
these ages the numbers fluctuate irregularly from year to year, as the number of survivors in any
given year will be materially affected by the rise and fall in the preceding years of the mortality
from the various diseases. At the beginning of 1912 the number of survivors was 10,638, among
whom there were 124 deaths during that year. Estimates of survivors for the Wards of the
Borough have been made since 1906 only in the case of children aged 1-2, and from a year later
in the case of each of the higher ages. Consequently at ages 4-5 years estimates are available
from 1909 only, and hence averages for four years only are submitted at those ages.
The mortality in the whole group 1-5 years was 1672 per 1,000 survivors last year, and
showed an increase of nearly 50 per cent. over the rate recorded in 1912 (11.64), and one of more
than 25 per cent. above the four-year average (13.31). The mortality rates for each of the four
age periods were higher than those observed in 1912 and also than the averages. (See below.)
The increases were proportionately greater at the first two ages than at the others. The rate at
ages 2-3 years showed the smallest increase above the 1912 rate, and that at ages 3-4 above the
average.

Mortality Rates. Per 1,000 Estimated Surviving Persons.

Ages1-2-3-4-5
191338.5713.047.656.62
191223.5512.846.574.25
1908-1229.4111.587.055.68 (1909-12)