[Report 1893] / Medical Officer of Health, Keighley Borough.

  • Keighley (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1893] / Medical Officer of Health, Keighley Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/32 (page 4)
    had, therefore, a slightly larger number of children under one year of age this year than last. On the supposition, then, that the whole population of the Borough is increasing at an uniform rate, and that infants bear the same proportion to the whole population now as formerly, the infant mortality stands at the same figure as last year, viz., 158. Of 907 children born in 1892, 144 died during their first year, while in 1893, of 922 born, 146 died within the same period. Although this mortality is not high compared with some towns, for example, the 33 large English towns, whose infant mortality averages 165, still there is no doubt but that in a manufacturuig town such as this, where mothers go out to work and infants are brought up artificially, many infant lives are sacrificed which might otherwise have been saved. Ages of Zymotic Deaths.—As pointed out in last year’s report, the majority of Deaths from Infectious Diseases occur in children under 5 years of age. Of Zymotic Deaths this year, 41 were under 5, and 26 over 5. To this must be added 6 Keighley cases dying in the Joint Hospital, and 1 Bingley case dying in the Borough must be deducted, making the total for the Borough 72 Zymotic Deaths. Last year there were 55 Zymotic Deaths, 38 being under 5 and 17 over. Uncertified Deaths.—There seems to be a steady increase in the number of deaths registered without the cause of death having been certified by a medical man or by the coroner. 43 Deaths were uncertified in 1890, a percentage of 6*0 53 > 1 1891, ,, 7-9 51 ,, ,, 1892, ,, 8 6 62 ,, ,, 1893, ,, 9-8 Thus it may be seen that no medical certificate was given in almost 1 in every 10 Deaths registered in the Borough. Inquests.—12 Inquests were held during the year, compared with 10 in 1892, and 7 in 1891. Small- Pox,—During the past year 72 cases have occurred in the Borough. Since 1888 Small-Pox has been unknown in the town, and there can be no doubt but that this last epidemic has been largely spread throughout the country by the vagrant class. No fewer than 15 different times has the disease been brought into the Borough by vagrants and common lodging-house inhabitants. This, I think, should prove the necessity for additional powers to restrain those migratory classes from spreading infection during the prevalence of an epidemic.