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 1941
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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7
7 in the number of deaths from diarrhoea amongst those under two years
of age in spite of last year's figure being a substantial rise on the rate
for any previous year. Road traffic accidents resulted in nearly the
doubling of the number, 22 against 12, but deaths due to other forms
of violence were exactly half those of 1941 (57 instead of 114) the reduction
being the result of lessened enemy activity.
Fatalities from the infectious diseases expressed as a rate per
thousand population again compared favourably with the figures for
the country as a whole, the rates for whooping cough 0-04, diphtheria 0,
influenza 014, measles 0 01, being lower than the corresponding national
rates of 0 06, 0-07, 0 19, and 0-03. The figure of 10-3 deaths per thousand
live births for diarrhoea and enteritis in infants under two years of age
is over double the national figure of 5-1.
In the following table are analysed into the different age groups the deaths for each sex for the year 1941 and for 1938 for purposes of comparison, this year being typical of the pre-war years when the local death rate was 71.
| Under 5 | 5/14 | 15/24 | 25/44 | 45/64 | Over 65 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male, 1941 | 13.0 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 13.0 | 30.2 | 42.1 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 10.6 | 29.6 | 40.3 |
| Female, 1941 | 8.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 11.1 | 24.1 | 53.0 |
| 1938 | 10.0 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 17.1 | 21.9 | 46.5 |
The distribution of the deaths of the males in the age groups for
each year is remarkably similar, the proportion in each of the lower age
groups being lower in the year 1941 but each group over 25 showing an
increase as compared with 1938. In the case of the females though,
the increase is limited to those over 45 and is particularly marked in
the case of those over 65. Of the difference of 219 between the number
of deaths of males in 1941 and those in 1938, 104 occurred amongst
those over 65 years of age and 85 amongst those in the 45 to 64 age
group. The 259 increase of female deaths, too, is practically all included
amongst those of the higher ages, 170 being amongst those of over 65,
and 74 in the 45-64 age groups. Of the increase in the deaths amongst
the males 58 were due to respiratory complaints, 40 to intra-cranial
lesions, and 15 to cancer (most of these increases being amongst the
elderly) and 45 to respiratory tuberculosis (mostly amongst those of
ages 15-54); and amongst the females, 48 to cancer, 37 to intra-cranial
lesions, 49 to heart lesions and 58 to respiratory complaints, most of
these increases being amongst those of advanced ages.
GENERAL PROVISIONS OF HEALTH
SERVICES FOR THE AREA.
CLINICS AND TREATMENT CENTRES.
A few additional sessions were opened during the year so that at
the end of 1941 24 weekly infant welfare clinics were being held in 11
Premises, the equivalent of 4i weekly toddlers' sessions in 7 premises