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
City of London 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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1
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR THE CITY OF LONDON FOR THE YEAR 1944.
To the Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commoners of the Corporation of London.
Public Health Department,
Guildhall, E.C. 2.
My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen, July, 1945.
I have the honour to submit a report on the work of my Department for the year 1944.
On the instructions of the Minister of Health, this report is again presented in an abridged form
and briefly summarises the activities of the Department, the normal work of which has been
restricted by war circumstances.
Particular attention has been given to the rat problem and also to the supervision of food supplies.
STATISTICAL INFORMATION.
| Area.—661 acres (including the Temple and Tidal Water and foreshore). | |||||
| Population.—Registrar-General's estimate for 1944, 4,170. | |||||
| Annual Rateable Value.—As at October, 1944, £6,218,800. | |||||
| Annual Sum received from Penny General Rate.—Estimated £23,800. | |||||
| Births:— | Total. | M. | F. | ||
| Legitimate | 27 | 10 | 17 | Birth Rate per 1,000 estimated resident population, 1944 8.37 | |
| Live Births, Illegitimate | *8 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Still Births | 1 | 1 | 0 | Rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births 27.27 | |
| *See the paragraph on Maternity and Child Welfare below. | |||||
| Deaths:— | |||||
| Deaths under 1 year | 2 | 1 | 1 | Death Rate per 1,000 estimated average population 16.79 | |
| Deaths (all ages) | 70 | 46 | 24 | ||
| Deaths from puerperal causes (Headings 29 and 30 of the Registrar-General's Short List):— | |||||
| Deaths. | Rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births. | ||||
| No. 29. Puerperal sepsis | Nil. | 0 | |||
| No. 30. Other puerperal causes | Nil. | 0 | |||
| Total | Nil. | 0 | |||
| Death Rate of Infants under one year of age :— | |||||
| All Infants per 1,000 live births | 57 | ||||
| Legitimate Infants per 1,000 legitimate live births | 0 | ||||
| Illegitimate Infants per 1,000 illegitimate live births | 250 | ||||
| Deaths from Cancer (all ages) | 12 | ||||
| Deaths from Measles (all ages) | 0 | ||||
| Deaths from Whooping Cough (all ages) | 0 | ||||
| Deaths from Diarrhoea (under 2 years of age) . | 0 | ||||
Vaccination.— Of the 271 births notified to the Vaccination Officer during 1943, 111 had been
successfully vaccinated by the end of 1944. 13 had died before the age for vaccination and 0 was
insusceptible. Vaccination was postponed in no case, and 110 had removed into other districts. No
case was pending. There were 37 cases of conscientious objection. The Public Vaccinator performed
8 revaccinations during the year, and in addition to the successful vaccinations referred to above,
24 adult persons were vaccinated for the first time.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
No. of City Births notified (including stillbirths) 36
Visits by Health Visitors:—
Under one year 160
Over one year and under 5 years 308
Ante Natal 163
Ophthalmia 0
Still Births *0
Home Helps 0
Infant Life Protection 1
Scabies 0
476 lbs. of Dried Milk were supplied to children under one year ; also 62 lbs. Farex and 247
bottles Radiostoleum to mothers and children.
Liquid Milk, Cod Liver Oil and Fruit Juices were distributed through the Child Welfare Centre
to mothers and children on behalf of the Food Office.
*No visit was made in connection with the one still birth, as the body was found in a train at
a station and not identified.
The figure of 8 illegitimate live births referred to in the paragraph on Statistical Information
above relates to 7 babies found abandoned and to only 1 born to a mother known to be resident in
the City. This child remained in the care of its mother and receives regular visits from the Health
Visitor. The parents of this child have since married.
There were no premature births to City mothers during the year.
No evidence of infestation by head lice was observed in any City child.