London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wandsworth 1879

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]

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71
IV. Developmental.—It is satisfactory to observe no
decided increase in deaths from premature birth, &c.
Under that sub-class deaths are often put which, with care
and judicious feeding ought not to have occurred. A
small number of deaths from old age were registered.
V. Violence.—The deaths registered under this class
are about the average.
Ages of the deceased.—The per-centage of deaths among
children under 1 year to the total deaths in 1879 was
24'5 per cent.; in 1878 it was 27.9.
Under 5 years 68 deaths occurred, as compared with
87 in 1878, and 70 in 1877; the per-centage is 37.9 of
the total. Whooping Cough, Diarrhœa, Convulsions,
Bronchitis, and Premature Birth were the chief causes of
death among the young. Above 80, 13 deaths were registered,
about 7 per cent. of the total. Of these 9 were of
females, and 4 of males: the oldest was 91, a female, and
the next 88, a male. 53 deaths occurred at 60 and
upwards, or nearly 30 per cent. of the total. Diseases of
the lungs, heart, and brain were the chief causes of death
among the aged. 48 upwards of 60 died in 1878, so that
although there are fewer very old, there were more
persons died in 1879 of advanced age.

Social position.—The proportion of the several classes is as follows:—

Nobility and Gentry1.7
Professional Class15.7
Middle Class28.5
Industrial, &c.54.1

A larger proportion than usuual of the better classes
suffered from epidemic diseases. Considering exposure
to infection, &c., the industrial classes ought to be
greater sufferers than they seem to be. No doubt this