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 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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48
MORTALITY IN CHILDHOOD.
"Diarrhœal Diseases."
Mortality at ages under 2 years.
Rates per 1,000 births.
| London. | Paddington. | Kensington. | Westminster. | St. Marylebone. | Hampstead. | Willesden | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 27.64 | 26.64 | 19.62 | 16.24 | 27.67 | 8.64 | 19.44 |
| 1913 | 27.50 | 23.21 | 23.82 | 23.34 | 16.58 | 13.57 | 12.38 |
The quarterly distribution of the deaths at ages under 2 years recorded last year was—
1st quarter, 6 deaths (male 1, females 5); 2nd quarter, 3 (males 2, female 1); 3rd quarter,
44 (22 of each sex); 4th quarter, 25 (males 13, females 12). In the subjoined statement the
numbers of deaths allocated to the different Wards during the past year are shown in comparison
with the corresponding numbers for 1913 and the averages for the preceding five years.
"Diarrhœal Diseases."
Deaths recorded at ages under 2 years.
| Borough. | Queen's Park. | Harrow Road. | Maida Vale. | West-bourne. | Church. | Lancaster Gate, | Hyde Park. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West. | East. | ||||||||
| 1914 | 78 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 34 | — | — | 1 |
| 1913 | 73 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 29 | — | — | 1 |
Since 1911 the deaths from the diarrhœal diseases have been entered under the headings of
"diarrhœa" and "enteritis." Last year 28.2 per cent. of the deaths recorded came under the
former heading and 71.8 per cent. under the latter. In 1913 the proportions were 15.6 and
84.3 per cent. respectively, and in 1912, 54.5 and 45.4 per cent.
The proportion of deaths occurring in institutions was 60.3 per cent. last year, as compared
with 53.1 per cent. in 1913 and 68.1 per cent. in 1912.
The "Diarrhœa Register" was opened on June 1st and closed on November 21st. The
co-operation of the local hospitals and Poor Law Medical Officers was accorded as in previous
years, and the School for Mothers made arrangements to supply the special preparations of milk
which have been useful on former occasions.
The attacks in children under 2 years of age made known to the Department last year
through inquiries at the hospitals and the reports received from the Poor Law Medical Officers
numbered 167. In addition, 83 cases in persons over that age were discovered. An examination
of the records kept at the Infirmary showed that 8 other cases in children had been treated
there during the time the "Diarrhœa Register" was open, making a total of 175 cases in
children aged 0-2 years.
Among the 175 cases there were 32 deaths, while 25 deaths (at ages 0-2 years) took place
without the Department being aware of the patients' illness. The dates of onset of all cases and
deaths are shown week by week in Table 32.
The fatality among cases known during life was 17.7 per cent. last year, as compared with
12.9 per cent. in 1913 and 10.8 per cent. in 1912.
As in previous years, fly counts were obtained at selected spots in the Borough. The
average weekly numbers of flies per "cemetery" are given in Table 33, together with certain
meteorological records. The weekly variations in the temperature, rainfall, numbers of flies, and
cases of diarrhœa and deaths during 1914 and 1913 are compared in the diagrams
facing page 50.