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

Hampstead 1918

Report for the year 1918 of the Medical Officer of Health

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Table:

Insured.Non-insured.Totals.
(a) Total attendances at the Dispensary (including attendances at the Dispensary of persons included under 1 (a)35514661821
(b) Number of the above attendances at which systematic physical examinations and records were made183458641
3. Number of visits to patients at their own homes by the Dispensary Medical Officer in connection with the supervision of home conditionsNil.11
4. Number of visits to patients at their own homes by the Dispensary Nurse in connection with the supervision of home conditions and "follow-ing up"68229297
5. Number of persons suffering from or suspected to be suffering from Tuberculosis referred to the Hospital to which the Dispensary is affilia-ted---
6. Number of consultations with the—
(a) Medical Adviser of the Insurance Committee---
(b) Consulting Physicians at the Hospital to which the Dispensary is affiliated---
(c) Practitioners at the homes of patients___
7. Number of written reports concerning individual patients made to—
(a) Public Authorities491362
(b) Practitioners_-_
8. Number of specimens of sputum examined5499153

Text

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Section E.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The continued decline in the birth-rate has become a serious
menace to the national life, and in this decline Hampstead bears a part.
Our highest birth-rate was 24 5, recorded in 1878 ; and since 1900 the
rate has never risen above 20 per 1,000. The rate for 1918—11.1—
marks yet another sharp drop.
The possibilities of the declining birth-rate being counteracted by
a lower death-rate, are limited. We cannot expect to see the present
death-rate of the Borough reduced very much, but it is quite possible
for the birth-rate to decrease to a much lower figure than even the
rate of 11.1 for 1918. While, therefore, every effort should be made
in the campaign for saving child life, it must be remembered that lives
saved are only deaths postponed at best,