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
City of Westminster 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
This page requires JavaScript
Table V.—Infant Mortality, 1921. Nett deaths from stated causes at various ages wider One Year of Age in the City of Westminster.
| CAUSES OF DEATH. | Under 1 Week. | 1—2 Weeks. | 2—3 Weeks. | 3—4 Weeks. | Total under 4 Weeks. | 4 Weeks and under 3 Months. | 3 Months and under 6 Months. | 6 Months and under 9 Months. | 9 Months and under 12 months. | Total Deaths under 1 Year. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Measles | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Whooping cough | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
| Erysipelas | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Umbilical sepsis | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Tuberculosis | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Syphilis | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 6 |
| Meningitis | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Bronchitis | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 6 |
| Pneumonia (all forms) | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 17 |
| Infective enteritis | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 21 |
| Enteritis | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Gastritis | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Injury at birth | 7 | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 7 |
| Neglect at birth | 6 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 6 |
| Murder | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Atelectasis | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| Congenital Malformations | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | 11 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 18 |
| Premature birth | 17 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 29 | 1 | — | — | — | 30 |
| Malnutrition, marasmus | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 8 |
| Debility from birth | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 9 |
| Rickets | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Accidents | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Other causes | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 5 |
| Totals | 42 | 15 | 6 | 14 | 77 | 24 | 17 | 24 | 12 | 154 |
Nett Births in the year—
| Males. | Females. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legitimate | 904 | 825 | 1,729 |
| Illegitimate | 87 | 103 | 190 |
| 991 | 928 | 1,919 |
Nett Deaths in the vear of—
| Males. | Females. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legitimate infants | 69 | 48 | 117 |
| Illegitimate infants | 22 | 15 | 37 |
| 91 | 63 | 154 |
In addition there were 43 stillbirths.
The causes of death of the Illegitimate were:—Measles 1, tuberculosis 1,
bronchitis 2, pneumonia 4, enteritis 4, syphilis 5, neglect at birth 5,
murder 1, atelectasis 1, congenital malformation 1, prematurity 5,
marasmus and debility from birth 7, rickets 2. 11 infants had no known
address, having been found in various parts of the city.