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
Brentford 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford]
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The next table shows the distribution of the mortality of the 3 districts of the town during the last 10 years.
| 1898 | 1899 | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | '905 | 1906 | 1907 | Average for 10 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George's | 13.2 | 16.6 | 10.1 | 18.9 | 11 .7 | I3.5 | 19.2 | 15.6 | 14.5 | 15.7 | 14.9 |
| St. Paul's | 18 | 19 5 | 17.5 | 15.4 | 16.4 | 11.9 | 13.2 | 11.0 | 12.4 | 13.5 | 14.8 |
| New Brentford | 20.7 | 22.3 24.3 | 20.7 | 20.7 | 15.8 | 21.3 | 19.9 | 16.4 | 16.4 | 19.8 | |
INFANT MORTALITY.
The rate of this mortality on the proportion of deaths under I
year to every 1000 births is 113.6, which is the lowest recorded for many
years (last year it was 140.7). If I could think that' this had been
caused by greater care on the part of parents I should rejoice exceedingly,
but it can be explained by the fact that in consequence of the
wet, cool summer there was no Diarrhoea, and although there was
an abundance of plums they did not decompose rapidly and so did
no harm, still I hope the constant efforts which have been made for
many years to teach parents how to feed and clothe their children
have been productive of some good. I also hope to organize shortly
a committee of ladies whose duty it will be to visit and advise
mothers how to bring up their infants in the first year of life. Little
however can be done for the class who leave their babies to the care
of children little older than themselves whilst they go to the laundry
or other work.
The following table gives the rate and average infant mortality for the last 10 years.
| 1898 | 1899 | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | Average for 10 years |
| 198.8 | 187.1 | 138 | 193.8 | 176.6 | 125 | 161.4 | 115 | 140.7 | 113.6 | 155 |
The following are the deaths from the principal Zymotic
diseases.
SMALL POX.—None.
MEASLES.
There were a great number of cases from March to August, and
12 deaths were recorded. I am afraid the general public does not
treat this disease seriously. They think all children must have it
and take no precautions to check its spreading by isolation. Children
suffering from Measles usually mix freely in the home with those
who have not got it, and unless great care is exercised by the
authorities they go to school and spread it there. The deaths are
chiefly caused by lung complications and great care should be taken
to keep the little sufferers warm in bed.