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
East Ham 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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8
I am pleased to report a considerable improvement compared
with the previous year. The figures being 129 per 1,000 in 1905
as compared with 154 per 1,000 in 1904.
Despite this improvement, the Infantile Mortality rate still
remains far too high. It is subject to considerable variation year
by year, the variations being largely due to the amount of summer
Diarrhoea, but if the figures for a number of years are taken, it
will be seen that no real improvement has taken place.
The following table, which has recently been published, shews that while the general Death-rate of the country has steadily declined, the rate of Infantile Mortality has practically remained stationary :—
ENGLAND AND WALES.
| General Death Rate. | Infantile Mortality per 1,000 Births. | Birth Rate. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861-70 | 22.5 | 154 | 35.2 |
| 1871-80 | 21.3 | 149 | 35.4 |
| 1881-90 | 19.1 | 142 | 32.5 |
| 1891-1900 | 18.2 | 154 | 29.9 |
The subject is rendered more serious from the fact that the
Birth-rate of the country is also steadily declining, as the above
table also shews.
The chief registered causes of infantile mortality are
Diarrhoea, Enteritis, Marasmus, Debility and Convulsions.
Altogether 204 deaths of infants under one year were ascribed to
the above causes. These are very largely preventible diseases,
so that 42% of the mortality should not have occurred.
DIARRHœA AND ENTERITIS
'Chiefly occur in the summer and autumn, particularly during
a hot, dry season. Contaminated milk given in filthy bottles is
largely responsible for these deaths, for breast fed children suffer
but little from these diseases.