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
St Pancras 1886
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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The Northern sub-division is open on the west side to Parliament Fields and
contains the old and new grounds of Highgate Cemetery towards the east side.
The Central sub-division has Regent's Park and Primrose Hill on the west side,
and the Railway Termini and Depots on the east side.
The Southern sub-division is most shut in.
METEOROLOGY.
The mean temperature for the year was 48 7 degrees, or 0 7 below the average of
45 years, the mean daily range being 15.6 degrees, and coincident with the average
of 45 years. The mean degree of humidity was 81 per cent., or 1 below the average.
The mean degree of barometric pressure 29.734 inches, or .024 below the average.
The rainfall was 24.21 inches, or 1.85 below the average.
On the whole, the year was slightly drier and cooler than the average.
VITAL STATISTICS.
POPULATION.
In entering upon the second half of the decennial interval between the census of'
1881 and that of 1891, the difficulty of calculating the statistics proportionately
increases. The distance of time since the actual enumeration of the population
took place requires the more care in estimating this basis of vital statistics.
The following numbers show, according to the Census Returns, the growth of population in the Parish during the three decennial periods since 1851 and an estimation for 1891:—
| Numbers. | Decennial Increase. | Fall in Decennial percentage increment. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census. | In Numbers. | Per Cent. | ||
| 1851 | 166,965 | .... | .... | .... |
| 1861 | 198,788 | 31,823 | 1905 | .... |
| 1871 | 221,465 | 22,677 | 11.40 | 7.65 |
| 1881 | 236,258 | 14,793 | 6.67 | 4.73 |
| 1891 | 9,403 | 3.98 | 2.69 | |
If a fall of 7.65 per cent. is reduced to a fall of 4.73 per cent. in the next decade,
the proportionate fall in the following decade, viz., 1881-91 would be 2.69, equal
to a decennial increase of 3'98 per cent. upon 236,258. According to this method
of calculation the annual increase in numbers would be 940, whereas if calculated
on the actual rate of increase prevailing in the preceding decennium, viz., 6.67 per
cent. it would be 1479.