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
Chelsea 1932
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chelsea, 1932
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TABLE No. 16.
| 1931. | 1932. | |
|---|---|---|
| Infectious Diseases | 2.7 | 4.2 |
| Diarrhœal Diseases | 2.7 | 15.5 |
| Developmental Defects and Wasting | 19.0 | 18.3 |
| Other causes | 17.6 | 14.0 |
| Total Rate | 42.0 | 52.0 |
TABLE No. 17.
Infantile Mortality Rates per 1,000 Births in Wards.
| 1931. | 1932. | |
|---|---|---|
| Hans Town | 43 | 46 |
| Royal Hospital | 26 | 73 |
| Church | 70 | 64 |
| Cheyne | 23 | 46 |
| Stanley | 41 | 47 |
| Chelsea Borough | 42 | 52 |
Illegitimate Deaths.—The following Table No. 18 shows the number
of deaths among illegitimate infants during the past two years.
TABLE No. 18.
| 1931. | 1932. | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of illegitimate deaths under 1 year | 8 | 8 |
| Illegitimate death rate | 104 | 125 |
APPARENT EXCESSIVE MORTALITY IN THE BOROUGH.
The Census Returns have consistently shown that there is a considerably
higher percentage of persons of advanced age living in Chelsea
than in any other Metropolitan Borough. The 1931 Census Returns
showed that in London generally 7.3 per cent. of the total population
were included in the age-group 65 and upwards. In Chelsea, however
no less than 10.2 per cent. of the total population constituted the age
group 65 and upwards.
These facts must be borne in mind in any analysis of the Chelsea
mortality rate, as they are naturally reflected in the death returns.
In 1932, deaths of pensioners in the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, accounted
for 57 deaths, inward transfers included (equivalent to 0.9 of the death
rate). For many years past more than half the deaths in Chelsea have
occurred in persons over 65 years of age.