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
Clerkenwell 1899
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Clerkenwell, St. James and St. John]
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Deaths of Infants in each Sub-District according to Age in Months.
| Months = | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Totals. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goswell | 25 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | = 92 |
| St. James | 35 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 4 | = 93 |
| Amwell | 59 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 1 | = 147 |
| Totals | 119 | 27 | 33 | 25 | 19 | 17 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 11 | = 332 |
Turning now to the infantile mortality of Clerkenwell we find that taking all the infant deaths, including those at one year into consideration (intra-parochial and extra-parochial) the causes of death were as follows:—
1. Prematurity of birth and physical defects at birth. The
excessive mortality of the first month is almost entirely
due to these causes, coupled with debility, feeble vitality
and starvation.
2. Hereditary tendencies such as Syphilis.
3. Careless nursing, inexperience, and neglect of parents.
4. Industrial conditions, especially the industrial employment
of mothers.
5. Insanitary conditions.
6. Improper Food. When improper feeding is a factor a large
proportion of the deaths are due to Diarrhœa.
7. Violence, Suffocation in bed, etc.
Turning now to the infantile mortality of Clerkenwell we find
that taking all the infant deaths, including those at one year into
consideration (intra-parochial and extra-parochial) the causes of
death were as follows:—