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 1900
Report on the public health and sanitary condition of the Parish of Clerkenwell [West Division, Borough of Finsbury] for the year 1900
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Out of the total of 223,—74 were between 65-70 years of age.
105 ,, ,, 70-80 ,, ,,
40 ,, ,, 80—90 ,, ,,
4 ,, ,, 90—100 ,, ,,
The claims of death at the two extremes of life, and the effect of season, is shown roughly as follows:—
| Jan.-March. | April-June. | July-Sept. | Oct.-Dec. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The causes of death amongst aged persons will naturally be those
attributable to strain and exhaustion. The number of deaths, over
65 per 1,000 of the population, will also depend to a considerable
degree upon the social status of the majority of the population. In
an industrial community there will naturally be fewer lives attaining
old age. Senility, Heart Disease, Pneumonia, Cerebral
Diseases, Paralysis, etc., are common causes of death. As in
previous years Bronchitis claimed the largest number of the 125
intra-parochial deaths. Eight deaths of persons over 65 years of
age were due to Cancer. It may be noted that 36 deaths were due
to Cancer during the year, the average age being 54 years, as
compared with 41 deaths so caused last year, with an average age
of 50 years.
Death Certification.—It may be remarked here that during the
year the Vestry memorialized the Local Government Board in
favour of legislation respecting Death Certification on the lines
proposed by the Select Committee of the House of Commons in
1893, which recommendations were endorsed by the London County
Council in 1895.
The objects to be aimed at in the proposed reform are the
prevention of crime and the more exact ascertaining of the cause of
death for statistical and public health purposes. The two chief