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

Merton and Morden 1952

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]

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INFANT MORTALITY.
Deaths of infants under 1 year of age totalled 15, giving
an infant mortality rate of 17.3 per thousand live births.
Although this figure shows an increase over the rates for 1950
and 1951 it is well below that for the country as a whole, as
will be seen by study of Table I on page 10. Eleven of the 15
were neonatal deaths and in three of these prematurity was
a contributory cause of death.
There was a marked increase in the number of stillbirths,
a total of 18, giving a rate of 20.3 per thousand total births.
This is rather disappointing and is the highest figure we have
had in the district for 5 years.
A table showing the infant mortality and stillbirth
rates for the last 10 years is given on page 21.

Table: Infant Deaths — With causes of death.

Infant Deaths — With causes of death.

Sex.Age.Cause of Death.
Male2monthsAsphyxia due to inhalation of stomach contents into air passages.
Male4hoursPolycystic disease of kidneys.
Patent inter auricular septum.
Male1monthBroncho pneumonia.
Male3hoursAtelectasis.
Prematurity.
Male9hoursMultiple Congenital Deformities.
Female1dayAtelectasis.
Extreme Prematurity.
Maternal Toxasmia.
Female2hoursAtelectasis.
Dextrocardia with transposition of viscera.
Male5monthsAcute gastro-enteritis.
Female4hoursIntracranial haemorrhage.
Maternal pre-eclamptic toxaemia
Female2daysAtelectasis.
Prematurity.
Male2weeksPeritonitis.
Operation for intestinal atresia.
Male1hourCerebral haemorrhage.
Tentorial tear.
Female2weeksSepticaemia.
Male4monthsPrimary malignant glioma, left cerebrum.
Male2monthsMeningomyelocele (lumbar).