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

Croydon 1936

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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Table: The following table gives the causes of death during the first month of life:—

The following table gives the causes of death during the first month of life:—

1. Complications of Labour.
Trauma at Birth6
6
II. Foetal States.
Congenital Heart Malformation4
Other Congenital Deformities2
Atelectasis9
Congenital Debility2
Ophthalmia Neonatorum1
Haemorrhage2
Melaena1
21
III. Prematurity29
29
IV. Post-Natal Causes8
8
64

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The rate of infantile mortality for England and Wales in 1936
was 59 and for the 122 large towns 63. The rate for Croydon is
therefore considerably lower than the average rate. An analysis
of Table VI. shows that, of the total infant deaths, 19.4%
occurred on the first day of life and 47.8% before the completion
of the first month, and it is probable that these deaths were due to
causes operating before birth except in so far as accidents of birth
(5) were concerned. If it was not for the persistently high rate
of this mortality the total infant mortality figure would be better
than it is.