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
Shoreditch 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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removed to hospital, and that recovered cases should have convalescence and
prolonged convalescence if complications or sequels have occurred or threaten
to do so.
Unfortunately parents often allow children to become seriously ill before
seeking assistance. No case in which application was made to the hospitals of the
Metropolitan Asylums Board for admission was refused and 133 cases were admitted.
There were undoubtedly, however, very many more cases for whom application for
admission should have been made.
Facilities for convalescence for children coming to the notice of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Department are unfortunately inadequate in Shore ditch.
Influenza.
The number of deaths attributed to influenza was 68, this being considerably
above the average for recent years. As will be seen from the table on page 10 the
deaths occurred for the most part at the extremes of life.
The number of deaths in Shore ditch during recent years has been as follows:—
| Year | Deaths. | Year. | Deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | 12 | 1923 | 14 |
| 1918 | 295 | 1924 | 28 |
| 1919 | 121 | 1925 | 19 |
| 1920 | 51 | 1926 | 22 |
| 1921 | 27 | 1927 | 25 |
| 1922 | 69 | 1928 | 16 |
During the last four years the deaths and death rate from influenza in London as a whole have been as follows: —
| Number of deaths. | Deaths per 1,000 population. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 786 | 0.17 |
| 1927 | 1,790 | 0.39 |
| 1928 | 502 | 0.11 |
| 1929 | 3,088 | 0.69 |
Diarrhœa.
There was somewhat less diarrhœa in Shore ditch than during 1928, though the
disease was rather more prevalent in London as a whole.
Particulars as to the deaths are contained in the following table:—
| Deaths under two years. | Deaths under one year. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number. | Rate per 1,000 population. | Total Number. | Rate per 1,000 births. | Percentage of deaths under 1 year. | |
| London | 753 | 0.17 | 696 | 9.9 | 14.1 |
| Shore ditch | 21 | 0.21 | 20 | 9.9 | 11.9 |