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
Erith 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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Analysis of the causes of death of this age group reveals the following figures : —
| Deaths from | 1936 | 1935 |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia | 7 | 3 |
| Whooping Cough | 2 | — |
| Bronchitis | 1 | — |
| Neo-Natal | 14 | 16 |
| Other causes | 6 | 4 |
| 30 | 23 |
The figures bring out the large share that neo-natal deaths
(deaths of infants under one month) play in contributing to the
infant mortality rate. It is this group that will have to be
reduced before any further serious reduction in our infant
mortality rates can be achieved.
The effect on this figure, of the new midwifery service
under the Midwives Act, 1936, will be an interesting speculation,
when this service has reached maturity.
I have included a table showing the Infant Mortality at 5 year intervals for the past 25 years and for 1936.
| Erith | England and Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 7091 | 130 |
| 1915 | 73.17 | 91 |
| 1920 | 61.5 | 83 |
| 1925 | 56.48 | 75 |
| 1930 | 61.05 | 66 |
| 1935 | 40.0 | 59 |
| 1936 | 58.8 | 59 |
A(7) Natural and Social Conditions of the Area.
Erith is situated south of the river Thames, adjoining the
County of London on the West and the Urban Districts of
Crayford on the East, and Bexley on the South.
A large number of the population are employed in the
several large factories, situate in the neighbourhood. The
principal industries being Cable Making, Oil Refining, and the
manufacture of Mining and Electrical Machinery, Asbestos and
Cement Slabs.