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
Wealdstone 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wealdstone]
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The causes of death are set out in the following table:—
| Diphtheria | 4 |
| Influenza | 3 |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 10 |
| Other Tubercular Diseases | 1 |
| Cancer | 16 |
| Heart Disease | 7 |
| Bronchitis | 3 |
| Other Respiratory Diseases | 2 |
| Pneumonia | 4 |
| Diarrhoea, etc. (under two years of age) | 1 |
| Appendicitis | 3 |
| Meningitis | 2 |
| Nephritis | 5 |
| Congenital Debility, etc. | 16 |
| Violence (apart from suicide) | 4 |
| Other defined Diseases | 34 |
| Total | 115 |
Many quite elderly people were among the deaths;
for instance 9 were over 80 years of age and 2 had
nearly reached 90 years. There were 31 deaths which
took place outside the district but were transferable
to the district.
INFANT MORTALITY.
Of the 312 children born 23 died under one year of
age, yielding an Infant Mortality Rate of 73.7 per
1,000 born. This rate was 85.8 for 1918, and 58.8 for
1919.
Sixteen infants died from Congenital Debility and
Premature Birth, most of them surviving only a few
hours.
In 1920 the Infant Mortality Rate for England
and Wales was 80, for London 75 and for the 148
smaller towns 80.
There were 8 still born births.
Undoubtedly many of these deaths of infants
under one year of age were preventible, and the
special efforts now being made throughout the country
to improve the health, well-being, and knowledge of
expectant and nursing mothers and the good work
being carried on by the various Child Welfare Centres