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
Battersea 1902
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1902
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13
The phenomenon of a declining birth-rate is not peculiar
to Battersea; it is observed in many civilised communities,
especially those peopled by the Anglo-Saxon race. The
birth-rate in England and Wales has fallen from 36.3 in 1876
to 28.6 in 1902, and in the matter of fertility this country
is approaching our Australian Colonies, where the birth-rate
is almost as low as that of France.
Table I. shows the birth-rate in each of the sub-districts
and in London during the decennium 1892-1901, and in 1902.
TABLE I. Birth-rate per 1,000 Population.
| Year | The Borough. | East Battersea. | North-West Battersea. | South-West Battersea | London. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | 32.4 | 35.3 | 34.1 | 24.5 | 30.9 |
| 1893 | 33.3 | 34.7 | 38.6 | 23.7 | 30.9 |
| 1894 | 31.4 | 32.6 | 36.6 | 23.2 | 30.2 |
| 1895 | 32.3 | 34.3 | 37.9 | 22.2 | 30.6 |
| 1896 | 32.4 | 34.8 | 37.8 | 22.2 | 30.2 |
| 1897 | 31.7 | 33.8 | 36.6 | 22.7 | 30.2 |
| 1898 | 30.9 | 33.6 | 35.0 | 21.9 | 29.7 |
| 1899 | 30.9 | 33.6 | 36.0 | 21.0 | 29.6 |
| 1900 | 30.6 | 33.5 | 35.2 | 21.3 | 29.2 |
| 1901 | 29.7 | 32.6 | 33.3 | 21.3 | 29.0 |
| Average 1892-1901 | 31.5 | 33.8 | 36.1 | 22.4 | 30.0 |
| 1902 | 28.2 | 30.3 | 33.1 | 20.2 | 29.0 |