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

London County Council 1901

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

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Table: Table I.

Table I.

Census year.Sex.Total inhabitants enumerated.Born and living in London.Per cent.
1861Males1,307,781817,22762-5
Females1,496,208923,95061-8
1871Males1.523,151975,46164-0
Females1,731,1091,080,11562-4
1881Males1,797,4861,147,06363-8
Females2,018,9971,254,89262-2
1891Males1,990,7481,323,48066-5
Females2,220,9951,435,91564-7
1901Males2,142,0851,441,50967-3
Females2,394,4561,575,07165-8
Table I.
Census year.Sex.Total inhabitants enumerated.Born and living in London.Per cent.
1861Males1,307,781817,22762-5
Females1,496,208923,95061-8
1871Males1.523,151975,46164-0
Females1,731,1091,080,11562-4
1881Males1,797,4861,147,06363-8
Females2,018,9971,254,89262-2
1891Males1,990,7481,323,48066-5
Females2,220,9951,435,91564-7
1901Males2,142,0851,441,50967-3
Females2,394,4561,575,07165-8

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This table shows (a) that the proportion of persons born and living in London is increasing,
in other words, that migration is a diminishing factor, and (b) that the proportion of females born and
living in London is smaller than that of males, this is probably to be accounted for by the immigration
of females into London as domestic servants, etc. The effect of the factor of "migration" is well
illustrated in the following table (II.) in which the expectations of life and probabilities of living one year
at certain ages in London and the Selected Healthy Districts of the Registrar General are compared.
Table II.

Table: Comparison of probabilities of living one year and expectations of life at London, 1891-1900, with those of selected healthy districts, 1881-90—certainages in

Comparison of probabilities of living one year and expectations of life at London, 1891-1900, with those of selected healthy districts, 1881-90—certainages in

Age X.Expectation of life,Probability of liring one year at age x, px
Males.Females.Males.Females.
Healthy districts, 1881-90. E.London, 1891-1900 ExLon 'on to healthy districts taken as 1,000.Healthy districts, 1881-90. E.London, 1891-1900. E.London to healthy districts taken as 1,000.Healthy districts, 1881-90. p.London, 1891-1900. p.London to healthy districts taken as 1,000.Healthy districts, 1881-90. p.London, 1891-1900. p.London to healthy districts taken as 1,000.
051-4840-9879654-0445-33839•88085•81588926•90650•84569933
5570551-6090458-015512950•99444•99141997•99484•99127996
10530747-84901540151-49953•99793•997751,000•99763•997571,000
1548-6243-4089349•684710948•99724•996891,000•99670•997211,001
2044-41391388145•6242-77937•99582•995881,000•99536•996821,001
2540-3934-9686641-7138-46922•99459•994771,000•99438•995971,002
3532-7027-25833341630-42891•99262•98880996•99270•99142999
45251920-6582026-5623-29877•98953•98177992•99110•98657995
55180014-76820190616-72877•98239•96892986•98499•97673992
6511-609-7684112361101891•96293•94348980•96725•95562988
756-565-919017146-57920•91122•88619973•91980•90371983
853303481,0553-773-75995•78421•78343999•8118580340990
Comparison of probabilities of living one year and expectations of life at London, 1891-1900, with those of selected healthy districts, 1881-90—certainages in
AgeX.Expectation of life,Probability of liring one year at age x, px
Males.Females.Males.Females.
Healthy districts, 1881-90. E.London, 1891-1900 ExLon 'on to healthy districts taken as 1,000.Healthy districts, 1881-90. E.London, 1891-1900. E.London to healthy districts taken as 1,000.Healthy districts, 1881-90. p.London, 1891-1900. p.London to healthy districts taken as 1,000.Healthy districts, 1881-90. p.London, 1891-1900. p.London to healthy districts taken as 1,000.
051-4840-9879654-0445-33839•88085•81588926•90650•84569933
5570551-6090458-015512950•99444•99141997•99484•99127996
10530747-84901540151-49953•99793•997751,000•99763•997571,000
1548-6243-4089349•684710948•99724•996891,000•99670•997211,001
2044-41391388145•6242-77937•99582•995881,000•99536•996821,001
2540-3934-9686641-7138-46922•99459•994771,000•99438•995971,002
3532-7027-25833341630-42891•99262•98880996•99270•99142999
45251920-6582026-5623-29877•98953•98177992•99110•98657995
55180014-76820190616-72877•98239•96892986•98499•97673992
6511-609-7684112361101891•96293•94348980•96725•95562988
756-565-919017146-57920•91122•88619973•91980•90371983
853303481,0553-773-75995•78421•78343999•8118580340990

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In this table the influence of the mtiux of healthy lives previously referred to is very apparent
and as might be expected from a consideration of the census figures this influx affects the figures
relating to females more than it does the figures relating to males. Among other reasons it should
also be borne in mind that it is probable that a larger proportion of females (principally of the domestic
servant class) than of males return to their homes outside London when their health breaks down. It
is therefore a reasonable inference that the figures relating to males are a more trustworthy index of
the effect of London conditions on longevity than the figures relating to females although even
these figures are unduly raised by the immigration of healthy young men. The effect of migration
on the age constitution of the population is well illustrated by diagram I., showing the interpolated
population and death numbers at each year of age which formed the basis of the present life table. A
comparison of the male and female population curves in the diagram shows how much greater is the
disturbance caused by migration in the age constitution of the female population than in that of the
male population.
One of the most valuable applications of the life table is its use as an instrument for measuring
the effects of conditions affecting longevity obtaining in a community at different periods of time.
Unfortunately no extended life table for the London population has hitherto been published, and no
accurate standard of comparison for any period prior to 1891-1900 exists by which the results of the
present life table can be judged. In my annual report for the year 1893, however, I published a short
life-table for London, constructed according to Dr. Farr's "short" method, and based upon the
mortality in the decennium 1881-90, but the table so obtained cannot be used for comparison with
the present table, as the " short " method of Dr. Farr does not give more than an approximation to
the actual expectation of life, and this is particularly the case at the higher ages where the differences
in the results obtained by the "short" and "extended" methods of construction are so marked as to
make any comparison valueless. Since the short table for 1881-90 was constructed, however, a series
of papers have been written for the Royal Statistical Society by Dr. Hayward, Medical Officer of