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

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London County Council 1899

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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46
from all causes other than phthisis, increases with overcrowding, and that the maximum increase
from diseases other than phthisis occurs somewhat earlier in life than the maximum increase from
phthisis; while in this diagram the conditions under which the inhabitants are housed alone
can be considered, it must be recollected that the population which is badly housed suffers
from other consequences of poverty than insufficiency of dwelling accommodation. But however
much these other conditions may contribute to the production of phthisis, there is ample reason
for thinking that the dwelling itself and the manner in which it is occupied are important factors
in determining the prevalence of this disease. It is interesting to consider in this connection
the measures which are now in the main relied upon for the cure of phthisis. They consist in the
placing of the patient by night and by day under conditions which are mostly widely different from,
and indeed are directly opposed to, those which obtain in the overcrowded tenement. In so far as
these measures are successful in effecting the cure of phthisis the overcrowded dwelling must be
deemed to promote the disease, and hence the effects of overcrowding upon phthisis mortality may be
understood.

The figures upon which diagam XVII. is based are shown in the following tables— Phthisis—Death rates1 per1,000living,1899.

Proportion of total population living more than two in a room. (In tenements of less than five rooms.)All ages.0-5-10-15-20-25-35-45-55-65-75 and upwards.
Districts with under 10 per cent.1.180.510.130.230.861.091.562.451.911.941.571.52
„ ,, 10 to l5 ,,1.520.400.090.330.971.452.023.172.903.211.820.64
„ „ 15 to 20 „1.680.400.150.250.951.142.083.713.702.781.850.90
„ „ 20 to 25 „2.000.510.170.160.951.692.554.434.493.193.360.80
„ 25 to 302.130.690.210.301.001.162.664.235.193.462.091.90
„ „ 30 to 35 „2.540.730.140.341.312.043.036.086.454.442.890.31
„ „ over 35 „2.680.870.270.190.751.783.836.255.904.054.911.54

Phthisis—Comparative death rates (death rates in least overcrowded group at each age period taken as100).

Proportion of total population living more than two in a room. (In tenements of less than five rooms.)All ages.0-5-10-15-20-25-35-45-55-65-75 and upwards.
Districts with under 10 per cent.100100100100100100100100100100100100
129786914311313312912915216511642
„ „ 15 to 20 „1427811510911010513315119414311859
„ „ 20 to 25 „1691001317011015516318123516421453
,, „ 25 to 30 „181135162130116106171173272178133125
„ „ 30 to 35 „21514310814815218719424833822918420
,, ,, over 35 ,,2271712088387163246255309209313101

All causes—Death rates1 per1,000living,1899.

Proportion of total population living more than two in a room. (In tenements of less than five rooms.)All ages.0-5-10-15-20-25-35-45-55-65-75 and upwards.
Districts with under 10 per cent.152247.083.622.042.662.974.549.2615.2730.4355.33171.42
„ „ 10 to 15 „17.1353.813.842.343.053.765.8711.1718.1834.9362.77165.44
,, ,, 15 to 20 ,,19.1359.794.262.472.883.676.0613.0321.2338.9970.74189.66
„ „ 20 to 25 „20.4964.074.122.423.074.696.9413.6423.0941.5977.97191.96
„ „ 25 to 30 ,,20.4863.784.472.163.033.767.1314.5724.9542.4976.29185.09
,, ,, 30 to 35 ,,24.1177.774.892.394.195.348.1717.7228.9247.8880.29191.15
„ „ over 35 „24.0374.494.492.513.244.349.5317.8928.7148.3698.87224.96

All causes—Comparative death rates (death rates in least overcrowded group at each age period talcen as100).

Proportion of total population living more than two in a room. (In tenements of less than five rooms.)All ages.0-5-10-15-20-25-35-45-55-65-75 and upwards.
Districts with under 10 per cent.100100100100100100100100100100100100
„ „ 10 to 15 „11311410611511512712912111911511397
„ 15 to 20 „126127118121108124133141139128128111
„ „ 20 to 25 „135136114119115158153147151137141112
„ 25 to 30 „135135123106114127157157163140138108
„ „ 30 to 35 „158165135117158180180191189157145112
„ „ over 35 „158158124123122146210193188159179131

1 See footnote (1), page 3.