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

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Wandsworth 1910

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]

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109
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
"This year we endeavoured to trace every illegitimate
birth registered, including those in the Workhouse. Four
wrong addresses were given (Clapham, North, Balham, Tooting
and Springfield), 20 removed immediately after confinement,
five being here for confinement only—(Clapham, Norths
three; Putney two, Streatham three, Balham five, Tooting
one, Southfield two, Springfield four), and five died previous
to our visit (Balham one, Tooting one, Southfield two,.
Springfield one). Four were put out to nurse immediately
after birth (Putney one, Southfield one, Fairfield two), no
information was obtained in two cases (Tooting one, Springfield
one), and eight of those born in the Workhouse remained
there (Clapham, North, one; Balham one, Tooting
three, Fairfield two, Springfield one). Of the 113 visited"
(Clapham, North, four; Clapham, South, 11; Putney three,.
Streatham 13, Balham 23, Tooting 20, Southfield 13, Fairfield
seven, Springfield 19), 24 came into the Borough for confinement
only (Clapham, North, two; Clapham, South, six;
Streatham two, Balham eight, Tooting two, Southfield two,
Fairfield one, Springfield one). At the first visit 52 werewholly
breast fed (Clapham, North, two; Clapham, South,,
four; Streatham eight, Balham eight, Tooting seven, Southfield
six, Fairfield four, Springfield 13), and at the second
visit 10 (Streatham two, Balham three, Tooting one, Springfield
four). 28 had removed when the second call was made
and could not be traced (Clapham, South, five; Streatham
three, Balham seven, Tooting three, Southfield five, Fairfield
two, Springfield three). Eight of those visited died (Clapham,
South, one; Putney one, Tooting two, Southfield one, Fairfield
one, Springfield two), four from Bronchitis, three from
Diarrhoea and Enteritis, and one from Congenital Syphilis.
"Table LV. shows the number of re-visits, and the
method of feeding then found, the average age at the second
visit being from four to five months.
"The proportion of infants entirely breast fed this year is
again practically the same as last, while the proportion of
those having milk or food in addition to the breast is slightly
higher. There is very little variation in the proportion of