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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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58
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 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Pneumonia & Bronchitis | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Tuberculosis | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Violence | 1 | — | 3 | — |
| Other Causes | 4 | - | - | 1 |
| Total | 12 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
The death rates per 1,000 living at these ages in England and
Wales for the year 1937 were 9.7, 4.5, 3.3 and 2.8. 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 1937 the number of births in the district was
3,098, in 1936 2,873, in 1935 2,523 and in 1934 2,167.
INFANT MORBIDITY.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Number of cases notified:—9.
Number treated at home:—9. In hospital:—2.
Vision unimpaired 9. Impaired:—nil. Blindness:—nil.
Deaths:—nil.
Of the nine cases notified four were infants who were born in
and had been notified from London hospitals.
All cases were mild in character and made complete recovery.
Pemphigus.
Pemphigus of the new-born has since July 31st, 1935, been
notifiable in this district. One case was notified during the year.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
Twelve deaths were registered as due to or associated with
pregnancy, giving a maternal mortality rate of 3.64 per 1,000 live
births. Of these three were due to sepsis, being a mortality rate
from this cause of 0.91 and nine to other accidents and diseases of
pregnancy, a rate of 2.73. The corresponding rates for England
and Wales were 3.08, 0.89 and 2.19, and for this district in 1937:
4.19, 2.26 and 1.93. The rates per 1,000 total births were 3.52, 0.88
and 2.64, compared with figures of 2.97, 0.86 and 2.11 for the
country as a whole.