[Report 1907] / Medical Officer of Health, Beeston U.D.C.

  • Beeston (Nottinghamshire, England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1907] / Medical Officer of Health, Beeston U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Zymotic Death-rate—No less than 29 of these deaths were due to what are known as zymotic or epidemic diseases, viz. ; Measles 16, Diphtheria 6, Erysipelas 1, Whooping Cough 3, and Diarrhcoa or Epidemic Enteritis 3. This is a somewhat heavier proportion than we are accustomed to, and represents a zymotic death-rate of 2.06 per lOOO per annum, as compared Avith 2.1 in 1906, 1.01 in 1905, 3.08 in 1904, 0.67 in 1903, 1.1 in 1902, 3.6 in 1901, 0.98 in 1900, 1.3 in 1899, 2.1 in 1898. The deaths may be tabulated as follows :— 1907.1906190519041903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 U nder 1 year ... ... 27 41 30 47 23 25 38 23 34 48 1 year and under 5 ... ... 24 16 16 17 5 9 19 14 22 9 5 „ 9> 99 16 ...> ... 11 4 5 12 6 5 6 5 3 3 15 „ 99 99 25i ... , ... 4 4 5 7 6 5 2 10 7 4 25 „ 99 99 65 ... 38 30 31 35 41 28 32 19 36 51 65 and upAvards ... 37 23 30 37 31 25 21 28 31 24 141 118 116 155 112 97 118 99 153 119 Of the 37 deaths occurring in pcr.sons over 65 years of age, 6 were between 66 and 70, 21 between 70 and 80, 9 between 80 and 90, while one was over 90 at the time of death. This speaks well for the longevity of the inhabitants, and should be taken note of Avhen comparing the death-rate of Eeeston with other places, such as West Bridgford for instance, which is mainly populated Avith, comijaratiA’elj’' siDeaking, young people. Ineantile Mortality.—It is satisfactory to note that the number of deaths of Infants under 1 year of age has again fallen below uoj-inal limits. TAA'enty-seven AA'ere reported under 1 yeai- of age, giving an Infantile Mortality rate of 83.5 per 1000 births registered. That is to saj% if 1000 childi’en had been born in Beeston during the year, 83 Avould have died during the first year of their existence. This compares A'ery faA’ourably Avith the previous j-ear, Avhen the rate Avas 147.4. The average for the last 10 years is 124, or in other AA'ords, Ave have a saving of 41 lives during the year under revieAA- over the average for the past 10 years. Nor is this all, tor as Dr. Handford has pointed out in his last Beport, excessive infant mortality is almost inevitably associated Avith deteriorated health of the survivors. In order to lessen infantile mortality it might he desirable for your Council to adopt the Notification of Births Act, by Avhich it is incumbent upon the father, or failing him, the person in attendance at the birth, to notify the birth of every child to the Medical (Jllicei ot Health AA'ithin 36 hours. The adoption of the Act is optional upon Sanitary Authorities, and is for the purpose of saving infant life. If jou aie prepared to appoint a Lady Inspector to give instruction in the itaiing and teoding of children yon might ado])t the Act AA'ith advantage, othei-AA-ise it seems superfluous to do so. lolloAAing my usual plan, 1 giA’e in tabular form the causes of death in infants, and compare them with the previous 10 years.