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

City of Westminster 1911

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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Table: Figures for both births and deaths of infants corrected, showing the true rate in each of the last ten years are given on the next page.

Figures for both births and deaths of infants corrected, showing the true rate in each of the last ten years are given on the next page.

Legitimate.Illegitimate.Total Rate.
Births.Deaths.Death rate per 1,000 births.Births.Deaths.Death rate per 1,000 births.
19023,27541012518632172127
19033,03534511315025166116
19012,92032010913440298118
19052,97130510214924161105
19062,74428510318738203110
19072,7642699716334208103
19082,7392669717427155100
19092,548232912032612893
19102,393189781932512982
19112,1952109116633198102
1911.Legitimate.Illegitimate.Total Kate.
Births.Deaths.Death rate per 1,000 births.Births.Deaths.Death rate per 1,000 births.
Victoria Ward683781146510153117
St. Margaret and St. John763781025916271114
Best of City749547242716677

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Meteorological conditions were responsible to some extent for the
decrease since 1902, especially in 1910, and for the rise in 1911. In view of
the excessive heat and drought in the summer, a high infantile mortality
was to be expected in the usual course of events, and for all London the
rate went up from 102 in 1910 to 129 per 1,000, the average of the
years 1906-10 being 114; for England and Wales the rate was 130,
compared with 106 the rate for 1910, and 127 the ten yearly average.
The climatic conditions of 1911 were a severe test of the work which has
been done in past years in visiting mothers and giving advice on the
rearing of infants, and the result may fairly be claimed as proof of the
practical value of health visiting and of the lines on which the work has
been carried out. This is especially shown in the eastern part of the
City, including Soho, where health visiting has been longest in operation.
Tables VI, VIa and VIb show the causes of death of infants in
the City as a whole, and separately in Victoria Ward and St. Margaret
and St. John Wards. Whooping cough and premature births are
responsible for an increase in the number of deaths in Victoria, while
digestive troubles caused an increase in St. Margaret and St. John.
Table VII shows the number of deaths of infants, and their
relation to births in the last six years. It also shows the age periods
at which they died.