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 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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TABLE I.
Deaths from :
| Prematurity and Debility | 11 |
| Developmental conditions, including injury at birth | 17 |
| Bronchitis and Pneumonia | 8 |
| Gastro Enteritis | 3 |
| Miliary Tuberculosis | 2 |
| Other causes: | |
| Acute Nephritis | 1 |
| Cellulitis | 1 |
| Asphyxia | 1 |
| Total | 44 |
If the returns are examined more closely as to the period
of the first year in which mortality occurs, it will be found that
no less than 26 of the deaths took place within the first month
of life, i.e. within the neo-natal period.
TABLE II. Deaths from:
| Prematurity and Debility | 11 |
| Developmental conditions | 13 |
| Bronchitis and Pneumonia | 1 |
| Cellulitis | 1 |
| Total | 26 |
This is 59 per cent. of the total deaths recorded, as against
the figure of approximately 40 per cent. exhibited in the
national returns. Moreover 20 of these 26 deaths occurred
within the first week of life; and in 12 instances within the
first day of life, while in 8 cases the age of the child is recorded
in hours.