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 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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13
Maternal Deaths are investigated by the Medical Officer
of Health, in collaboration with the Medical Practitioner and
midwife concerned.
A (3). Infantile Mortality.
34 infants died before reaching one year of age, giving
an infantile mortality of 33.7. The comparable figure for
the whole country is 41 and London Administrative County
37.
Analysis of the cause of death at this age group reveals the following figures :—
| Deaths from :— | |
| Prematurity and Debility | 10 |
| Bronchitis and Pneumonia | 5 |
| Gastro Enteritis | 5 |
| Meningitis | 1 |
| Congenital Heart Disease | 2 |
| Hydronephrosis | 1 |
| Cerebral Haemorrhage | 1 |
| Jaundice | 1 |
| Other Causes | 8 |
| 34 |
I have included a table showing the Infantile Mortality at five year intervals for the past 35 years and for 1947.
| Year | Erith | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 70.91 | 130 |
| 1915 | 73.17 | 91 |
| 1920 | 60.5 | 83 |
| 1925 | 56.48 | 75 |
| 1930 | 01.05 | 66 |
| 1935 | 40.00 | 39 |
| 1940 | 37.17 | 55 |
| 1945 | 39.61 | 46 |
| 1947 | 33.7 | 41 |