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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66
first month, the cause of death in two was influenza and in four
some respiratory complaint.
The following table is an analysis of the causes of death of those infants of ages between one and twelve months:—
| 1-3 Mths. | 3-6 Mths. | 6-9 Mths. | 9-12 Mths. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Disease | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Pneumonia & Bronchitis | 3 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Tuberculosis | — | 1 | 1 | — |
| Diarrhœal Diseases | 2 | 1 | 3 | — |
| Deficient Inherent Vitality | 4 | — | 1 | — |
| Violence | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Other Causes | 1 | — | 2 | — |
| Total | 12 | 13 | 13 | 5 |
Five of the six deaths from infections were due to whooping
cough, the other cause being influenza. It is probable that a
number of those deaths which took place in the early part of the
year and were ascribed to bronchitis and pneumonia were actually
due to the influenza which was then prevalent. The group of
"deficient inherent vitality" includes two suffering from prematurity,
two from congenital debility, and one from marasmus.
DEATHS OF OLDER CHILDREN.
The following table classifies the deaths of children between the ages of 1 and 5 years:—
| 1-2 Yrs. | 2-3 Yrs. | 3-4 Yrs. | 4-5 Yrs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Disease | 4 | 2 | — | 1 |
| Pneumonia & Bronchitis | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Tuberculosis | — | — | 1 | — |
| Violence | 2 | — | — | — |
| Other Causes | 2 | — | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 9 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
The death rates per 1,000 living at these ages in England and
Wales for the year 1936 were 10.7, 5.0, 3.4 and 3.0. The local
figures of actual deaths cannot be translated into corresponding
rates as the actual numbers of those living in this district at these
ages is not known, though some indication is obtained from the
knowledge that in 1936 the number of births in the district was
2,873, in 1935 2,523 and in 1934 2,167.