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
Acton 1903
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]
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14
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
There were 150 deaths registered of Infants under one year of
age, as against 1,422 births ; the proportion which the deaths under
one year of age bear to 1,000 births is therefore 105.4 as against
149.8 in the preceding year.
The following table compares the death rate of children under one year per 1 ,000 registered births, and the birth-rate for the preceding ten years:—
| Year. | Birth Rate per 1,000 | Deaths of Children under one year per 1,000 Registered Births |
|---|---|---|
| 1893 | 31.9 | 192.5 |
| 1894 | 30.2 | 160.6 |
| 1895 | 31.6 | 168.1 |
| 1896 | 30.3 | 168.9 |
| 1897 | 30.7 | 198.3 |
| 1898 | 30.5 | 181.9 |
| 1899 | 31.7 | 187.2 |
| 1900 | 28.1 | 168.5 |
| 1901 | 32.0 | 170.1 |
| 1902 | 27.8 | 149.8 |
| 1903 | 28.6 | 105.4 |
This low Infant Mortality is due to the diminished number of
deaths from Zymotic Diarrhoea. The heavy rainfall during the
summer months washed and purified the air, and laid the dust of
the streets. This dust frequently contains micro-organisms, which
cause Zymotic or Infantile Diarrhcea.
It shows how important it is to keep the roads well watered
during hot and dry weather, and the food properly protected from
dust and germs.
In the bill which will be presently before Parliament, provision
is made for the establishment of a Creche, such an institution will
materially help to diminish the Infant Mortality. I also look for
great help from Miss Williams, our Lady Help Visitor, who will
instruct the mothers as to the care and feeding of their offspring.