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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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Table XIV shows the causes of death of children who died under one
year of age. Figures under the same grouped causes are given from 1928
onwards, showing the proportion per 1,000 births applicable under each
heading:—
Table XIV.—Infantile Mortality—Causes.
| — | 1928. | 1929. | 1930. | 1931. | 1932 | 1933. | 1934. | 1935. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 1.4 | 0.73 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Influenza | — | 0.73 | — | — | — | 2.7 | — | — |
| Measles | — | 0.73 | 3.6 | — | 0.86 | — | 0.85 | — |
| Whooping Cough | 2.1 | 81 | 0.73 | 0.82 | 0.86 | 1.8 | — | 1.9 |
| Bronchitis and pneumonia | 13.8 | 14.7 | 14.6 | 22.3 | 12.1 | 10.9 | 12.0 | 12.4 |
| Stomach and bowel complaints | 10.9 | 7.3 | 5.8 | 13.2 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 15.4 | 11.5 |
| Syphilis | 0.72 | 0.73 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 1.71 | — |
| Congenital malformations debility, etc. | 5.1 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 6.6 | — | 1.8 | 2.57 | 8.6 |
| Prematurity | 9.4 | 19.8 | 18.2 | 22.3 | 19.9 | 16.3 | 20.5 | 20.1 |
| Tuberculosis | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.4 | — | 0.86 | — | — | — |
| Murder | — | — | 1.4 | — | 0.86 | — | — | 1.9 |
| Accidents and negligence | — | — | — | 1.6 | 0.86 | 0.9 | 1.71 | 8.6 |
| Cerebro-spinal Meningitis | — | — | — | 0.82 | 0.86 | 0.9 | — | 1.9 |
| Erysipelas | — | — | — | — | 0.86 | 0.9 | 0.85 | — |
| Other causes | 2.1 | 13.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 6.85 | 4.7 |
Table XV shows nett deaths from various causes at several age periods
during the first year of life in the City of Westminster :—
Table XV.—Infant Mortality.—Causes at various ages.
| 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronchitis and Pneumonia (all forms) | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 13 |
| Premature birth | 18 | 2 | — | — | 20 | — | 1 | — | — | 21 |
| Other causes | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 5 |
| Stomach and bowel | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 12 |
| Accidents and negligence | 6 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 9 |
| Congenital Defects | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 9 |
| Whooping Cough | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 |
| Murder | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Cerebro-spinal Meningitis | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 |
| 31 | 4 | 3 | — | 38 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 75 |
Prematurity has for the last four years held priority as a cause of
infant mortality and accounts roughly for one fourth of the deaths.
During the first four weeks, it claims more than one half while after that
(9069) c