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
Willesden 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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104
Infant Death Inquiries.—In this district, in addition
to the above measures taken for the prevention of infant
mortality, inquiries are also made into the deaths of children
under one year of age, with a view to ascertaining the
causes predisposing to such deaths.
The following Table, No. 62, shows the number of
infant death inquiries made during the past two years:—
Table No. 62.
| Year. | No of Deaths of Infants under 1 year. | No. of Infant Death Inquiries. |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 325 | 300 |
| 1914 | 337 | 231 |
The information ascertained from these inquiries would
show that in a number of cases the child does not receive
treatment until a comparatively late stage of its illness.
Early treatment of disease is important in the case of adults,
but in the case of infants it is imperative, and the difficulties
that many parents have in seeking the necessary medical
advice mainly on account of expense is a matter which the
Local Authority require to consider in connection with the
care of infants. In certain areas excellent treatment clinics
have been established by the municipalities under their own
control, and similar arrangements require to be made in
Willesden.