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
Wandsworth 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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109
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
| 1908. | 1909. | 1910. | 1911. | 1912. | 1913. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total deaths under one year from Diarrhoea and Dysentery, including Epidemic Diarrhoea and Zymotic Enteritis in first quarter of the year | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Do. in second quarter | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Do. in third quarter | 5' | 35 | 14 | 89 | 10 | 33 |
| Do. in fourth quarter | 9 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 10 |
| Total deaths under one year from other forms of Enteritis in first quarter of year | 13 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 14 | |
| Do. in second quarter | 9 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 14 |
| Do. in third quarter | 22 | 31 | 19 | 110 | 15 | 32 |
| Do. in fourth quarter | 18 | 15 | 16 | 40 | 4 | 21 |
33 out of a total of 51 deaths from Diarrhoea, and 32 out of a
total of 81 from Enteritis occurred in the third quarter of the year.
The number of deaths from Diarrhœa, Zymotic Enteritis, and
Enteritis under one year represents 21.8 per cent. of the total
mortality at that age, compared with 11.6 per cent. in 1912, 33 per
cent. in 1911, and 12 per cent. in 1910, so that the increase of the
mortality under one year was largely due to the increase in the
number of deaths of infants from the above causes.
The higher death-rate from Diarrhœa and Enteritis among
infants was due to the very warm and dry summer and the consequent
increase in the amount of dust and the presence of house flies.
Comparing the year under consideration with 1911 and 1906,
when the climatic conditions were very similar, there has been a
very large decrease in the mortality, and this may be largely attributed
to the work of the female Sanitary Inspectors in visiting the
homes shortly after the birth of children and the instructions then
given.