London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wandsworth 1870

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]

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40
Mortality amongst Infants and Children,—Comparing
the Tables of the two years 1869 and 1870, there is found
to be a slight decrease in favour of the past year in the
number of deaths of infants and young children, between
birth and 10 years of age, the figures standing at 79
against 84. Scarlatina and Diarrhoea amongst the
Zymotic group, and diseases of the tubercular class and
of the respiratory organs, amongst ordinary maladies,
proved the most fatal to infant life, whilst to premature
birth, low vitality, malformation, &c., 11 deaths of infants
under one year of age are attributed, being one less than
in the previous year.
Cases and Deaths amongst the Out-door Union Poor
of the Sub-district.—The fatal cases of illness due to
Zymotic diseases arising amongst the Union Poor, as
shown in Table V. Appendix, were 2 only, and the deaths
from all other diseases, including those from violence,
privation, &c., were together but 9, making a total of 11
deaths in 150 cases treated, or 7 3 per cent. of such total.
Social Position.—There is little to remark upon in the
columns of the mortality Table, relating to the social
positions of those who died during the past year; but it
may be observed that fewer of the industrial or labouring
classes succumbed, compared with the number recorded in
the Table of the previous year. The 70 deaths amongst
the working classes bear also a much less relative proportion
to the deaths amongst the three classes above them
collectively than they did in 1869.
Inquests on Violent Deaths and on Deaths from Unknown
Causes.—There were but few of these inquiries
during the past year, and there was nothing remarkable
in any one of them to require comment in this Report.
Two deaths it appears were occasioned by falls out of
vehicles, and one from off a ladder, but all three were
found to have been purely accidental. There was also one
death, the cause of which was asphyxia in bed, and two
from natural causes from disease.