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 1959

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]

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Table: TABLE VI FEMALES

TABLE VI FEMALES

Causes of DeathWeeksTotal in 1 monthMonthsTotal under 1 Yr.
12341-33-66-99-12
Congenital malformations3———3—2——5
Atelectasis3---3----3
Premature Birth7---7----7
Birth Injury2---2----2
Home Accidents1-1-2—-1—3
Totals:16-1-17-21-20

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The third wave of the influenza epidemic hit Edmonton in 1959
and it seems probable that damage from the influenza virus played a part in
the increase in the general death rate, the increase in still births, and
the increase in the infant mortality rate. Most of the babies who died died
under the age of one month and, of these, all but one died under the age of
one week. This suggests that a contributory cause was maternal ill-health.
It will be seen that one of the slightly older children died of
pneumonia and this also might well have followed on an influenzal infection.
It is also possible that the cases of foetal asphyxia, apart from one which
was due to an abnormality of pregnancy, might have been due to direct influenzal
infection of the foetus.

Table: ACCIDENTSThe Home Accidents during the year were as follows

ACCIDENTS

The Home Accidents during the year were as follows

DateSexAgeProbable Cause
27th JanuaryF79Coal Gas Poisoning.
7th FebruaryF85Suppurative Bronchitis following burns received in a fire at her home.
12th FebruaryF84Suppurative Bronchitis associated with carbon monoxide poisoning from coal gas.
13th MarchF20 daysFractured skull with laceration of the brain. Mother, being herself ill, fell down the stairs whilst carrying baby.
22nd AprilF88Multiple contusions sustained in fall at home.