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 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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while stillbirths are fewer, infantile; mortality shows an increase
largely due to prematurity, congenital malformations and other no -natal
causes. Of forty three premature infants born, thirty six survived.
In spite of the shortage of maternity bods and nursing staff
additional hospital accommodation has been secured for westminstar mothers.
This has been of much comfort to young married women whose home has been with
relatives or in furnished rooms. In 1944, 6l? births were in hospital and
in 1945, 753. By arrangement with the London County Covin oil resorved
accommodation increased from 6 to 3 bods.
CAUSES or DEATH (At all aces)
| Males | Females | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Influenza | 2 | 2 | |
| Meningitis & Convulsions | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Diarrhoea | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| Septic Diseases | 3 | - | 3 |
| Syphilis | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Diabetes | l | 1 | 2 |
| Tuberculosis of Lungs | 35 | 7 | 42 |
| Non-pulmonary Tuberculosis | 2 | 5 | |
| Malignant growths | 103 | 83 | 186 |
| Congenital debility) Malformation etc. ) | 23 | 13 | 36 |
| 01d. age | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| Locomotor ataxia & general paralysis | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Diseases of nervous system | 7 | 9 | 16 |
| Circulatory diseases | 213 | 214 | 427 |
| Bronchitis | 33 | 30 | 63 |
| Broncho-pneumonia | 25 | 23 | 43 |
| Pneumonia | 14 | 5 | 19 |
| Respiratory diseases | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| Alcoholism | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Appendicitis | - | 1 | 1 |
| Digestive diseases | 21 | 10 | 31 |
| Brights disease | .7 | 7 | 14 |
| Cystitis | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Accidents & Negligence | 30 | 18 | 48 |
| Suicide & Murder | 14 | 9 | 23 |
| Other defined diseases | 9 | 8 | 17 |
| Rheumatic Fever | - | - | - |
| Other violent, causes | - | - | - |
| Diphtheria | - | - | - |
| Cirrhosis | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Abortion. | - | 1 | 1 |
| Whooping Cough | - | 2 | 2 |
| 571 | 475 | 1,046 |
Among the causes of death, those of the heart and blood vossels, hold
highest place; a long way behind comes malignant disease. Tuberculosis,
Bronchitis, Broncho-pneunonia, Pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, taken
together, account for a total of only two in excess of those caused by cancer.