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
Enfield 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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11
It will be seen from Table II that of the 46 infants who died
before attaining the age of 1 year, 29 died within the first week of
life.
The infant mortality rate for the District is 26.65 and this
figure compares most favourably with the rest of the country.
The actual number of births registered in the District was as follows:—
| Males | Females | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 926 | 803 | 1,729 |
including 30 male and 22 female illegitimate births. In addition
25 male and 9 female still births were registered.
The corrected birth rates for both sexes, live and still births, which takes into consideration those born outside the District and those in the District not rightly recorded to the District, and also the corrected birth rates for the last five years are:—
| Year. | Boys. | Girls. | Total. | Birth-rate per 1,000 Population. | Illegitimate Birth-rate per 1,000 Population. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | 923 | 843 | 1,766 | 18.65 | 1.15 |
| 1946 | 1,120 | 1,110 | 2,230 | 21.39 | 0.91 |
| 1947 | 1,213 | 1,142 | 2,355 | 21.82 | 0.69 |
| 1948 | 1.013 | 943 | 1,956 | 17.57 | 0.36 |
| 1949 | 951 | 811 | 1,762 | 15.85 | 0.56 |
INQUESTS
Fifty-seven inquests and one-hundred-and-nine P.M.s without
inquests were held on Enfield residents during the year. Out of
these, 111 deaths were due to natural causes, 31 to accidental
causes, 17 to suicide, 4 to misadventure, 1 to murder, and in 2 cases
an open verdict was recorded.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948
No action was necessary during the year under Section 47 of
the National Assistance Act, 1948, with regard to the removal to
suitable premises of persons in need of care and attention.
Such cases as were brought to the notice of the Health Department
were dealt with by the Medical Officer of Health in co-operation
with the Medical Practitioners, and the patients voluntarily
agreed to go to suitable institutions.