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
City of Westminster 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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The causes of death of children under 1 year of age are set forth in Tables appended, and a summary showing the proportion of deaths per 1,000 births from various grouped causes in the last seven years is set out below:—
| 1915. | 1916. | 1917. | 1918. | 1919. | 1920. | 1921. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1-4 |
| Influenza | 0.5 | — | — | 6.81 | 5.62 | — | — |
| Measles | 3.5 | 0.5 | 3.9 | 0.68 | 1.87 | 2.21 | — |
| Whooping cough | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 0.62 | — | 1.6 |
| Septic diseases | 1.5 | — | 1.9 | — | — | 0.44 | 1.4 |
| Bronchitis and pneumonia | 14.1 | 15.4 | 16.8 | 16.35 | 10.00 | 12.80 | 11.8 |
| Stomach and bowel complaints | 15.1 | 12.7 | 7.1 | 10.89 | 8.75 | 9.29 | 13.4 |
| Syphilis | 5.0 | 4.9 | 8.4 | 6.13 | 5.62 | 2.64 | 2.6 |
| Congenital malformations | 45 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 4.76 | 3.75 | 619 | 9.3 |
| Prematurity | 20.7 | 20.9 | 27.2 | 23.3 | 21.2 | 5.40 | 15.5 |
| Neglect and injury at birth | 7.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 8.17 | 7.50 | 17.07 | 7.3 |
| Debility from birth and atrophy, rickets, atelectasis | 10.7 | 5.5 | 13.6 | 8.17 | 11.80 | 1.48 | 11.0 |
| Tuberculosis | 3.0 | 4.4 | 2.6 | 613 | 2.50 | 11.76 | 1.4 |
| Other causes | 3.0 | 3.4 | 7.1 | 5.45 | 6.87 | 4.34 | 3.6 |
| 90.8 | 82.7 | 103.0 | 100.24 | 86.10 | 73.62 | 80.2 |
It will be noticed that of the infants who died, exactly half
succumbed before the end of the first month. It is one of the objects
of the ante-natal clinics to reduce this number by ensuring greater
safety in child-birth and that the infants shall be born in a healthier
condition.