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

Edmonton 1957

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]

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Table: Table 8The deaths of infants under one year of age were as follows:-

Table 8

The deaths of infants under one year of age were as follows:-

MFTotal
Legitimate11415
Illegitimate2-2
13417

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The death rate of all infants per l,000 live births was 13.6, The death rate of all infants
under one month of age per 1,000 live births was 12.00.
The detailed sub-division of the causes, etc., of these DEATHS is as follows:

Table: Table 9MALES

Table 9

MALES

Causes of DeathOne WeekSecond WeekThird WeekFourth WeekTotal under 1 Month1-3 Months3-6 Months6-9 Months9-12 MonthsTotal under 1 Year
Myeloid Leukaemia
(Atelectasis)2---2----2
Erythroblastosis1---1----1
Premature Birth4---4----4
Birth Injury2---2---2
Other causes1---1----1
Congenital Malformations2---2---13
Totals:12---12---113

Table: Table 10FEMALES

Table 10

FEMALES

Causes of DeathOne WeekSecond WeekThird WeekFourth WeekTotal under 1 Month1-3 Months3-6Months6-9Months9-12 MonthsTotal under 1 Year
Pneumonia Premature Birth13---1 3-1-02 3
Totals4---4-1--5

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It will be seen that nearly half of the infant deaths were as the result of premature
birth. Most of the other causes were also due to insufficiently healthy pregnancy and adequate
ante-natal care is, therefore, the only answer. Only two deaths were due to causes which may
have been operating after birth These were the two deaths from Pneumonia.
Perhaps I should explain that atelectasis is inadequate expansion of the baby's lung and
that erythroblastosis is a disease of the red cells of the blood.
The prevention of Pneumonia involves many factors, improved nutrition is one, education
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