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
Woolwich 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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33
The following Table, No. 19, shows the infantile mortality
rate in the Borough and the registration districts for each
year since 1924.
TABLE No. 19.
| Period. | Woolwich. | West Plumstead. | East Plumstead. | Eltham. | The Borough. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | 79 | 42 | 68 | 70 | 65 |
| 1925 | 59 | 42 | 51 | 69 | 55 |
| 1926 | 51 | 37 | 41 | 44 | 43 |
| 1927 | 53 | 29 | 42 | 47 | 42 |
| 1928 | 60 | 43 | 41 | 54 | 50 |
Causes of Death. The causes of infant mortality are set
forth in detail in Tables Nos. 21, 22 & 23 which show the
incidence of mortality from each cause upon infants, distinguished
by age, sex and parish. It will be noted from
these Tables that the chief cause of death was prematurity,
31 deaths being ascribed to this condition. 11 deaths were
due to bronchitis, 12 to pneumonia, 9 to congenital malformation,
8 to whooping cough and 7 to debility or marasmus.
There was one death from measles, one from scarlet fever
and 7 from diarrhoeal diseases. The neo-natal mortality
rate, i.e., deaths under 4 weeks, was 22.47, compared with
22.75 in 1927. Of 51 neo-natal deaths, 29 were certified to
be due to premature birth and 5 to congenital malformations.
Deaths of Illegitimate Children. The number of deaths
of illegitimate children was 11, compared with 2 in 1927,
which was a somewhat exceptional figure. Four deaths