[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampton].

  • Hampton (London, England). Urban District Council.
Date:
[1897]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    HAMPTON URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. iplcbtcctl Officer*0 JleporL HAMPTON, February, 1897. Gentlemen, I herewith send you my Annual Report for the year ended December 31st, 1896. The total number of deaths during the past 12 months is 67, which is a low one, hut slightly higher than in the year 1894, which was 60, a remarkably low number; in 1893, the total was up to 80 ; and in 1895 it reached 78. By regarding these figures, we must, I consider, rest well satisfied with the result this year. Taking the estimated population at 6000 up to the middle of 1896, this will give us a death rate of 11*16 per 1000. The total number of deaths during Infancy, that is children under one year of age, is 17 ; or 2*83 per 1000—rather a high rate, when we have to remember the mildness of last winter, which was a remarkable one in this district. These 67 deaths, classified according to ages and diseases, are as follows, viz. :— Under one year ... ... ... ... 17 1, and under 5 years ... ... ... 3 5, „ 15 „ ... ... ... 3 15, „ 25 „ 5 25, „ 65 „ 18 65, and upwards ... ... ... ... 21 Total 67 Diseases, viz. :— Diphtheria ... ... ... ... 2 Diarrhoea... ... ... ... ... 3 Phthisis ... ... ... ... ... 3 Bronchitis and Pneumonia ... ... ... 10 Heart Disease ... ... ... ... 12 All other Diseases ... ... ... 37 Total 67 The three cases of Diarrhoea occurred in infants, and considering that 157 births were registered during the year, and the extreme heat of the past summer, the number from this cause is small; and, I consider, shows that knowledge of feeding these very young children is better understood and carried out. Parents cannot be too careful to avoid the administration of any solid food in the early months of infant life, and also to exercise extreme cleanliness in preparing food, which is most vital to an infant’s well being; together with heating milk up to 180 degrees, or under boiling point—this entails very little extra trouble, and will he amply repaid by good results.