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
Paddington 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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56 deaths in institutions.
TABLE 40. Inquests.
| 1910. | 1905-09. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | Males. | Females. | |
| Natural Causes | 38 | 44 | 38 | 41 |
| By Misadventure | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Accidental Causes | 27 | 24 | 29 | 21 |
| Murder | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| Suicide | 10 | 3 | 11 | 5 |
| "Open" | - | - | 3 | 1 |
| "Neglect" | - | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Execution | - | - | 0 | - |
The increased rapidity of road traffic appears to be leading to an increase in the number
of deaths ascribed to "vehicular traffic." Last year 13 deaths were attributed to that cause.
In the five years 1901-05 there were 47 deaths from accidents in connection with road traffic,
the total rising to 52 in the five years 1906-10. The deaths from suffocation in bed
("overlaying") show a satisfactory decrease. In the first half of the decennium 52 deaths
were due to this cause, and in the second half, 41. The totals for the past five years
bring out the change very strikingly, the deaths in each year, from 1906 onwards, having been
10, 12, 10, 5, and 4. Four deaths from injurv at birth, and one due to enteric fever, were
subjects of inquirv last vear—the latter a somewhat unusual occurence.
DEATHS IN INSTITUTIONS.
In the local institutions 808 deaths took place during the year, as compared with 813
during 1909, and an annual average of 758 during the decennium 1901-10. The annual
numbers of deaths in each institution are given in Table V, Appendix A, and the causes
of death during the past year in Table VI. Included in the total for last year were the
deaths of 359 non-residents, while 160 deaths of residents took place in out-lying
institutions. (See Table VI). The nett number of deaths in institutions was, therefore,
632, equal to 35.2 per cent. of all deaths, the same proportion as in 1909, but 2.3 per
cent. above the mean proportion (32.9) for the years 1905-09. The proportions recorded
in each Ward during the past year and the preceding five years, are given below. In
Lancaster Gate, West, Ward only, was there any reduction from the average.
Percentages of all Deaths of Residents.
| 1910 | 1905-09 | 1910 | 1905-09 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Park | 36.8 | 33.1 | Church | 45.7 | 41.9 |
| Harrow Road | 33.6 | 29.9 | Lancaster Gate, West | 16.6 | 21.3 |
| Maida Vale | 28.5 | 27.6 | East | 27.7 | 23.7 |
| Westbourne | 33.7 | 32.2 | Hyde Park | 27.7 | 26.5 |
An analysis of the class of institution (see below) shows that there were reductions in
the proportions of deaths in the Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board and in Lunatic
Asylums, but increases in the other institutions, the increase recorded in connection with
those of the Poor Law Institutions being the greater.
Deaths Percentages of Deaths
of Residents.
Rate maintained— 1910. 1910. 1905-09.
Hospitals of Metropolitan Asylums Board 16 0.8 l.3
Poor Law Institutions (Workhouse and Infirmaries) 372 20.7 17.'7
Lunatic Asylums 41 2.2 2.5
Supported by Voluntary Contributions—
Hospitals and Homes (excluding Nursing Homes) 203 11.3 10.8