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10
fatality in child.bearing.
59. That fact may be expressed in another form by stating that while there were averages of 5 cases
in the first half.years of each of the two periods, there were averages of 4 cases in the second half.
years of 1910.12 and of 8 in 1920.22.
The deaths due to this disease numbered 2 last year—one being a non.notified case—.equal
to a mortality rate of 0.73 per 1,000 births. In 1921 the rate was 1.39 per 1,000. Last year's deaths
occurred in Maida Vale and Westbourne Wards, and those (4) occurring in 1921 in Harrow Road,
Lancaster Gate, East and West, Wards. During 1910.12 Lancaster Gate, East, Ward was the only
one without a death from this cause, whereas during 1920.22 that freedom was enjoyed by Queen's
Park, Church and Hyde Park Wards. During 1910.12 the mortality rate ranged from 5.43 (Lancaster
Gate, West) to 0.47 (Church), and during 1920.22 from 3.96 (Lancaster Gate, East) to 1.41 (Maida
Vale).
The fatality rate, being the ratio of deaths to notified cases, was 25 . in the whole Borough,
both in 1922 and 1921. During 1910.12 the mean fatality was 40.7 per cent., there being one more
death in Hyde Park Ward than notifications, and that during 1920.22, 28.7, equivalent to a fall of
30 per cent.
In writing the above paragraphs the records of notifications have been taken at their face value,
i.e., no corrections have been made for review of diagnosis after notification. During 1922 such
review occurred with respect to 5 of the 8 cases notified, leaving 3 verified cases, only one of which
terminated fatally, giving a fatality of 33.3 per cent. instead of 25. The "errors" were equal to
62.5. of the notified cases, compared with 16.2 in 1921, and averages of 8.8 and 10.0 for the
periods of 1914-18 and 1919-20. All the notified cases' received hospital treatment, 4 in hospitals
of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, 3 in St. Mary's Hospital, and 1 in the Royal Free—a fatal case
of coli infection.
FATALITY OF CHILD.BEARING.
In addition to the 2 deaths from puerperal fever there were 6 from "Accidents and Diseases
of Pregnancy and Parturition," making the total number of deaths under this general heading 8
—equal to a fatality of 2.92 per 1,000 births, compared with 4.55 in 1921. Last year Queen's
Park, Lancaster Gate, West, and Hyde Park Wards recorded no death under this heading. In the
other Wards the fatality ranged from 5.44 (Harrow Road) to 1.58 (Church).
During 1910.12 the mean fatality rate for the Borough was 3.56, that during 1920-22, 4.10—an increase
of 15 per cent. During the first period the rates recorded in the Wards varied from 10.47
(Lancaster Gate, East) to 1.60 (Maida Vale), and during the later, from 7.92 (Lancaster Gate, East)
to 1.10 (Queen's Park). The mean rates recorded during 1920.22 were lower in Queen's Park, Church
and the two Lancaster Gate Wards, the reductions ranging from 74 per cent. (Queen's Park) to 24
(Lancaster Gate, East). The increases noted in the other Wards varied from 128 per cent. (Harrow
Road) to 18 (Lancaster Gate, West).
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
The cases notified during 1922 numbered 15, in addition to which 8 cases (including 2 already
known to the Department) were reported by the Officers of the County, and one was discovered by
the Health Visitor. The last was a midwife's case, and formed the subject of correspondence with
the Medical Officer of Health of the County, but, so far as is known, did not result in any legal proceedings.
The notified cases were equivalent to a rate of 5.49 per 1,000 births, the corresponding
rate for 1921 being 11.88, and that for 1920, 8.49.
It is now 11 years since this disease was scheduled for notification, and the following brief notes
on the prevalence of the disease will be found to be not without interest.
During the five years, 1912.16, the mean rate (per 1,000 births, as finally corrected) was 10.80,
the corresponding rate for 1917.21 being 11.18—showing an increase of 3.5 per cent. The maximum
rate recorded in any year during the first period was 17.38 (1914), and the minimum 7.28 (1913),
the similar figures for the second period being 12.95 (1919) and 8.49 (1920). Last year's rate compares
favourably with any and all of the rates previously recorded.
During the years 1912.16 the mean rates recorded in the Wards ranged from 22.93 (Westbourne
Ward) to 6.89 (Lancaster Gate, West), and during the following period from 15.01 (Church) to 5.93
(Lancaster Gate, East). In four Wards the mean rates for 1916.21 were less than the means for
1912.16, viz., Maida Vale, decrease 4.4 per cent., Westbourne, 41.4, Lancaster Gate, East, 53.9 and
Hyde Park, 35.0. In the other Wards the rates were higher, viz., Queen's Park, 29.2 per cent., Harrow
Road, 65.8, Church, 36.4, Lancaster Gate, West, 16.4. Last year the rate was 3.64 in Queen's Park,
where the minimum rate recorded during the preceding ten years was 5.01 (1912); in Harrow Road,
9.07, previous minimum 6.59 (1914); Maida Vale, 2.36, zero (1921); Westbourne, 4.08, 4.81 (1921);
and Church, 4.73 and 2.39 (1919). In the three other Wards the rates last year were : Lancaster