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
Harrow 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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Below is set out an analysis of the causes of these deaths under 12 months with the corresponding figures for the country as a whole ior the year 1936:—
| Local 1937. | England & Wales. 1936. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| Measles | — | — | 1.16 | 0-90 |
| Whooping cough | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.71 | 1.84 |
| Influenza | 1.2 | — | 0.31 | 0.22 |
| Diarrhoea and enteritis | 1.2 | 0.7 | 6.10 | 4.50 |
| Premature birth | 9.9 | 10.1 | 18.72 | 14.56 |
| Congenital defects | 0.6 | 6.1 | 8.94 | 7.22 |
| Congenital debility and icterus | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.52 | 2.29 |
| Developmental and wasting diseases | — | 1.3 | 31.16 | 24.07 |
| Birth injury | 6.2 | 2.6 | — | — |
| Tuberculous diseases | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.59 | 0.60 |
| Convulsions | 0.6 | — | 1.82 | 1.14 |
| Bronchitis and pneumonia | 6.7 | 5.3 | 12.28 | 9.22 |
| Violence | 2.4 | — | 11.07 | 7.95 |
| Other causes | 6.2 | 1.3 | ||
| 40.1 | 29.9 | 66.20 | 50.44 | |
68 infants failed to survive one month. The neonatal mortality
or the death rate per 1,000 births occurring in infants at under one
month was therefore 22, constituting 58 per cent. of the total infant
mortality rate. The distribution of these deaths per 1,000 births
amongst infants of different ages is set out below, with the corresponding
figures for the country as a whole for the year 1936 :
Local. 1937. England & Wales. 1936.
Under 1 Day 7.1 10.65
1—7 Days 9.3 11.25
1—4 Weeks 5.1 8.26
Total 21.5 30.16
30 of the neonatal fatalities occurred in premature infants. In
three of these the onset of the premature labour was due to antepartum
hæmorrhage and in another four to some abnormal state
of the mother (nephritis, toxaemia, etc.). In one instance labour
had been induced and two deliveries were by Caesarian section.
In five cases there was a twin pregnancy. In nine cases the infant
suffered from congenital abnormality (congenital heart, 5; meningocele,
2; and anencephaly, 2). In thirteen instances there was a
history of difficulty in labour. In five death was ascribed to atelectasis
(twins, 1; maternal toxmia, 1; and icterus, 1). In most of
these cases the death occurred very shortly after delivery. Of the
remaining infants who survived the first week but died within the
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