London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Enfield 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
This page requires JavaScript
The following table gives the birth-rate, recorded death-rate and infantile deaths for Enfield as compared with those for England and Wales, London, 126 County Boroughs and Great Towns (including London) and 148 Smaller Towns:—
| Birth-rate. | Recorded Death-rate. | Infantile Death-rate. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live | Still | |||
| England and Wales | 14.6 | 0.55 | 14.3 | 55.00 |
| London | 13.7 | 0.44 | 17.8 | 50.00 |
| 126 County Boroughs and Great Towns (including London) | 16.0 | 0.64 | 15.8 | 61.00 |
| 148 Smaller Towns | 15.7 | 0.55 | 12.8 | 54.00 |
| 16.94 | 0.46 | 10.64 | 42.53 | |
DEATHS.
Of the 1,010 deaths of Enfield residents during the course of
the year 108 were due to malignant disease: 263 to heart disease:
70 to pneumonia (all forms), and 54 to tuberculosis of the respiratory
system.
INFANT MORTALITY.
Of the 67 infants who died before attaining the age of one year,
30 died within the first week of life. In 15 cases death was due to
pneumonia: in 7 to congenital malformation: in 16 to premature
birth, and in 6 to Atrophy, Debility and Marasmus.
INQUESTS.
Thirty-eight inquests and forty-four P.M's. without inquests
were held in Enfield during the year. Out of these, 46 deaths were
due to natural causes, 21 to accidental causes, 6 to suicide, 6 to
misadventure, and 3 open verdict.
AMBULANCE FACILITIES.
For infectious Cases: 171 patients were removed from Enfield
during the year. 1,731 other patients were conveyed during the
year to local hospitals.
LABORATORY FACILITIES.
The following work was carried out in the Council's laboratory during the year.
| Specimen. | No. | Positive. | Negative. | Percentage of Positives. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs | 642 | 10 | 632 | 1.55 |
| Sputa | 204 | 12 | 192 | 5.88 |
| Totals | 846 | 22 | 824 | 2.60 |