London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
Comparison may be made between the number of deaths from the several causes in this table with those of the two antecedent years by reference to the following table:—
| Cause of death. | 1905. | 1906. | 1907. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syphilis | 271 | 233 | 226 |
| Rickets | 79 | 67 | 58 |
| Meningitis (not tuberculous) | 300 | 302 | 210 |
| Convulsions | 803 | 660 | 603 |
| Bronchitis | 1,276 | 1,043 | 1,284 |
| Laryngitis | 25 | 23 | 15 |
| Pneumonia | 1,490 | 1,335 | 1,629 |
| Suffocation, overlaying | 462 | 417 | 421 |
| Other causes | 1,004 | 1,009 | 979 |
| Total | 16,397 | 16,385 | 14,145 |
It is thus seen that the marked reduction in 1907 of infant mortality on that of 1905 and 1906
is largely due to the reduction in the deaths from diarrhœal diseases, consequent upon the
relatively low temperatures which prevailed in the summer of 1907.
The total deaths from all causes at ages in this table may be compared with similar figures
included in the Annual Reports for the years 1905 and 1906.
The Total deaths from all causes at ages in this table may be compared with similar figures included in the Annual Report for the year 1905 and 1906. The deaths in the three years are as follows:-
| Period. | Under 1 Week. | 1-2 Weeks. | 2-3 Weeks. | 3-4 Weeks. | Total under 1 Month. | 1-2 Months. | 2-3 Months. | 3-4 Months. | 4-5 Months. | 5-6 Months. | 6-7 Months. | 7-8 Months. | 8-9 Months. | 9-10 Months. | 10-11 Months. | 11-12 Months. | Total Deaths under one year. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 2,886 | 808 | 667 | 564 | 4,925 | 1,796 | 1,411 | 1,211 | 1,033 | 983 | 932 | 853 | 880 | 846 | 821 | 706 | 16,397 |
| 1906 | 2,683 | 707 | 722 | 545 | 4,657 | 1,690 | 1,417 | 1,279 | 1,080 | 1,080 | 970 | 917 | 849 | 884 | 774 | 788 | 16,385 |
| 1907 | 2,758 | 760 | 676 | 533 | 4,727 | 1,579 | 1,198 | 1,060 | 820 | 700 | 723 | 680 | 684 | 668 | 631 | 675 | 14,145 |
This table therefore shows that, as compared with 1906, the reduction in the number of deaths
is entirely due to reduction of those which occurred after the first month of life, during which, indeed,
there was actual increase in 1907.
The following life table, which is based upon the figures shown in the table on page 17, shows
the probability of living for one month at each month of the first year of life, and the number of
survivors at the beginning of each of the first twelve months of life out of 100,000 born. The figures
shown in the last two columns of the table are taken from similar tables published in recent annual
reports, and will enable comparison to be made between the three years 1907, 1906 and 1905 in this
respect:—
London-1907.
Life Table for the first 12 months of life(based on the mortality of the year 1907).
| 1907. | 1907. | 1906. | 1905. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age-period. | Registered deaths. | Probability of living for one month. | Number living at the beginning of each month of age. | Number living at the beginning of each month of age. | Number living at the beginning of each month of age. |
| x/12 | 1907. | P x/12 | I x/12 | I x/12 | I x/12[ |
| 0—1 month | 4,727 | .96139 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| 1—2 months | 1,579 | .98662 | 96,139 | 96,298 | 96,115 |
| 2—3 „ | 1,198 | .98973 | 94,853 | 94,957 | 94,701 |
| 3—4 „ | 1,060 | .99086 | 93,879 | 93,834 | 93,594 |
| 4—5 „ | 820 | .99288 | 93,021 | 92,820 | 92,647 |
| 5—6 „ | 700 | .99391 | 92,359 | 91,963 | 91,841 |
| 6—7 „ | 723 | .99368 | 91,797 | 91,107 | 91,076 |
| 7—8 „ | 680 | .99402 | 91,217 | 90,338 | 90,354 |
| 8—9 „ | 684 | .99396 | 90,672 | 89,612 | 89,693 |
| 9—10 „ | 668 | .99407 | 90,124 | 88,939 | 89,011 |
| 10—11 „ | 631 | .99439 | 89,590 | 88,238 | 88,357 |
| 11—12 „ | 675 | .99398 | 89,087 | 87,627 | 87,722 |
| 0—1 year | 14,145 | — | 88,55??? | 87,005 | 87,177 |
For the purpose of enabling comparison to be made of the age-distribution of the deaths under
one year of age in the several sanitary areas of London, the following table has been prepared:—