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
Finchley 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finchley]
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19
Causes of Death.
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
Seventy-one deaths occurred among infants under
1 year of age, which equals a death-rate of
73.9 per 1,000 under the age of one year, as compared with
56 deaths and a death-rate of 62.9 for the year 1910. The
Infantile Death-Rate for the whole of England and Wales was
130, and for the County of London was 128.
The increase both in this district and throughout the
country is largely attributable to Diarrhoea. During 1910 the
number of deaths in Finchley from this cause was 5, whereas
the number rose to 24 during 1911. If these 19 extra deaths
are subtracted from the total deaths among infants it brings
the number below that of 1910. I refer to the subject of
Diarrhoea later in the report.
The following table shews the number of deaths under one year of age, and the infantile death-rate for each Ward in the district:—
| 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | 1 otal Number of Deaths | Mortality Rate per 1,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Finchley | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 21 | 70.7 |
| East Finchley | 5 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 35 | 96.4 |
| West Finchley | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 53.7 |
Table II. sets out all the particulars regarding the Infantile
Mortality.
One death occurred from overlaying. The child was under
one week old. The Health Visitor always strongly advocates
the provision of separate cots for all infants, and it is quite
easy to improvise one out of an old orange box. I am informed
that the majority of mothers do provide these cots.