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
London County Council 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Table (VIII)—infant mortality by cause—1950-59 (Rates per 1,000 live births)
| Cause of death | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooping cough | 0.39 | 0.17 | 0.08 | 0.27 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.02 | - | 0.05 |
| Tuberculosis | 0.17 | 0.08 | 0.04 | 0.14 | 0.08 | — | — | — | - | 0.02 |
| Measles | — | 0.13 | — | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.10 | - | - | - | - |
| Bronchitis and pneumonia | 4.25 | 4.47 | 3.89 | 4.04 | 2.70 | 3.57 | 3.32 | 2.88 | 3.45 | 3.50 |
| Gastro-enteritis | 1.14 | 0.73 | 0.80 | 1.27 | 0.43 | 0.48 | 0.35 | 0.42 | 0.31 | 0.27 |
| Congenital malformations | 4.14 | 3.82 | 3.93 | 3.41 | 3.51 | 3.43 | 3.70 | 3.96 | 4.51 | 4.27 |
| Injury at birth | 2.42 | 2.98 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.34 | 2.59 | 2.64 | 2.98 | 2.27 | 2.46 |
| Post-natal asphyxia and atelectasis | 3.71 | 3.82 | 3.50 | 3.90 | 4.06 | 4.32 | 3.66 | 4.17 | 4.08 | 3.59 |
| Haemolytic disease | 0.95 | 0.86 | 0.72 | 0.53 | 0.55 | 0.58 | 0.61 | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.51 |
| Immaturity | 4.62 | 4.71 | 4.20 | 3.98 | 3.70 | 4.67 | 4.10 | 4.27 | 4.69 | 3.86 |
| Convulsions | — | — | — | — | 0.02 | — | 0.02 | — | - | — |
| Accidental mechanical suffocation | 0.26 | 0.25 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.12 | 0.06 | 0.21 | 0.23 | 0.13 | 0.16 |
| Other causes | 3.52 | 3.42 | 2.96 | 3.40 | 3.04 | 3.35 | 2.55 | 2.56 | 2.12 | 2.83 |
| All causes | 26 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Rates per 1,000 live births | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neo-natal mortality | Infant mortality | |||
| Year | London | England and Wales | London | England and Wales |
| 1950 | 16.9 | 18.5 | 25.8 | 29.6 |
| 1951 | 17.3 | 18.8 | 25.4 | 29.7 |
| 1952 | 15.8 | 18.3 | 23.1 | 27.6 |
| 1953 | 16.1 | 17.7 | 23.9 | 26.8 |
| 1954 | 15.1 | 17.7 | 20.7 | 25.4 |
| 1955 | 16.7 | 17.3 | 23.2 | 24.9 |
| 1956 | 15.9 | 16.8 | 21.2 | 23.8 |
| 1957 | 16.3 | 16.5 | 22.0 | 23.1 |
| 1958 | 16.6 | 16.2 | 22.5 | 22.5 |
| 1959 | 15.7 | 15.8 | 22.4 | 22.2 |
| Year | London | England and Wales | Year | London | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 33.2 | 37.4 | 1955 | 34.8 | 37.4 |
| 1951 | 34.6 | 38.2 | 1956 | 33.3 | 36.7 |
| 1952 | 32.6 | 37.5 | 1957 | 34.2 | 36.3 |
| 1953 | 34.7 | 36.9 | 1958 | 34.3 | 35.1 |
| 1954 | 32-8 | 38.1 | 1959 | 32.7 | — |
1 ne medical conditions causing still-birth cannot be determined since certification of the
cause is not at present required in this country although it is in Scotland. However, the
Population (Statistics) Bill* will bring the law in England and Wales into line with that in
Scotland by requiring the certificate to state the cause of death. A special enquiry, under
Ministry auspices, into peri-natal mortality was made in 1958-59, and the National Birthday
Trust Fund also made a similar enquiry in March, 1958; the results of both enquiries are
still awaited.
*The Bill received Royal Assent on 2nd June, 1960.
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