View report page

44
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Table XXVII shows the infantile mortality per 1,000 births
from all causes and from certain causes for the whole Borough
and for each sub-district.
From Premature Birth the rate was lowest in Tooting and
highest in Wandsworth, from Developmental diseases highest in
Putney and lowest in Streatham, from Diarrhœal diseases highest
in Putney and lowest in Streatham, from Measles and Whooping
Cough highest in Wandsworth and lowest in Streatham, from
Respiratory diseases highest in Putney and lowest in Streatham,
from Tuberculous diseases highest in Tooting and lowest in Streatham,
and from other causes highest in Streatham and lowest in Clapham.
The Table also shows the rates for certain groups of diseases
compared with the five previous years. From Premature Birth,
the notifiable diseases, Respiratory diseases, Accidental and other
causes, there has been a reduction, and from Developmental
diseases, Diarrhoea, Measles, Whooping Cough, and Tuberculous
diseases there has been an increase. This increase is marked in
all the sub-districts in the case of Diarrhoea.
It was noted in the Report for 1910 that the infantile mortality
rate was the lowest on record, but in 1911 there was a considerable
increase, more especially in the sub-districts of Putney and
Wandsworth.
The climatic conditions were this year most favourable for
Diarrhoea and digestive diseases of infants, and the deaths from
Measles and Whooping Cough in Tooting and Wandsworth were
also influenced by such conditions.
In July, August, and September the air temperature was above
the 65 year's average on 76 days out of 92, compared with only
15 days in 1910 and 27 days in 1909, when the Diarrhoea mortality
was low, and in 1911 the rainfall was much under the average,
rain falling on 22 days, compared with 3.7 in 1910 and 45 in 1909.
In July and August very high temperatures were recorded,
the mean daily temperature on the 9th August having been the
highest ever recorded.