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104
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
"The majority of the deaths occur in the streets and roads
adjoining the Wandle, in 1911 especially the houses were infested
with flies throughout the greater part of the year.
"86 deaths occurred among infants previously visited by us
in 1911, as compared with 19 in the previous year, this shows a
percentage of 33.5 as compared with 29 .8.
"The next most fatal complaints were Bronchitis and Pneumonia,
22 irfants dying of these, and six of Whooping Cough.
10 infants died of Marasmus, and seven of Congenital Debility
and Inanition, five died of Convulsions, four of Tubercular Meningitis,
two were suffocated, and two were premature. There was
one death from each of the following diseases, Anæmia, Jaundice,
Hydrocephalus, Congenital Syphilis, and Heart Failure, while the
death of one was registered as caused by Debility from birth,
Excessive Heat, the child being taken ill and dying the same day.
"Of the 3,518 irfants visited, 127 were premature, and of
these 17 died, and 46 were delicate from birth, 19 of whom died,
six of these being twins.
*•
"We have found it exceedingly difficult to trace the illegitimate
births registered, especially in the case of the Workhouse births
where the address of the house at which the expectant mother
had lodged for a short time before entering the Workhouse is
often given, or in other cases, the address of the home, or of a
member of the family who repudiates any connection with the
mother, and assures us that she will not return to that address
on leaving the Workhouse. Five wrong addresses were giver, 13
removed almost immediately after confinement, (two of these came
here for confinement only), and 10 irfants we found had died
previous to our first visit.
"No information could be obtained about five infants, and
28 were put to nurse immediately after birth, while five of thoseborn
in the Workhouse remained there.