London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barking 1922

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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CHILDREN UNDER 14 ONLY.

Number in family.Counted once only.All cases.
112412
217518
314225
48110
5335
6143
79-
8--
91-
10--
T OTALS58073

It is to be observed that when all casss are considered, the
larger families are unduly represented but not greatly so. Further,
if the distribution of susceptible families is represented by those
which contain a child of one year of age, there would seem to be
little evidence to believe that large families are unduly fit. The
suggestion is that during epidemic periods the dosage is so heavy
that the difference depending on intra or extra domestic infection
is not sufficient to produce a demonstrable effect. Thus,
on these lines, the earlier age of attack of the later bom
would seem to depend on biological causes. There is also
a heavy error of omission affecting the later born attacked at
later ages. This point has been dealt with statistically elsewhere.
The conclusion would seem to be justifiable that the age of attack
of the later birth numbers is more variable, an effect which! may
be dependent on parental age at birth.
R. J. EWART, M.D., D.Sc.,
Medical Officer of Health.