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
Orpington 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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| Total | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 636 | 339 | 297 |
| Puerperal Sepsis | — | |
| Other Maternal Causes | 1 |
| Total | Male | Female | ||
| Legitimate | 20 | 13 | 7 | |
| Illegitimate | 1 | 1 | — | |
| 21 | 14 | 7 |
| All infants per 1,000 live births | 21.5 |
| Legitimate infants per 1,000 legitimate ive births | 21.6 |
| Illegitimate infants per 1,000 illegitimate live births | 21.3 |
Population.
The Registrar General gives the population at mid-year 1949
as 59,500, which is an increase of 1,180 on the corresponding figure
for 1948, and is equivalent to a density of 2.9 persons per acre.
Included in this figure are 310 non-civilians, e.g., serving
members of the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force.
The average increase of population is, in spite of the housing
shortages, approximately 1,000 persons per year. The excess of
births over deaths accounts for 338.
One awaits with interest the taking of the next census in
1951 (the last census was taken in 1931), when the living conditions
of your population will be defined. The population 0-4
is estimated at 5,531 and from 5-14 at 8,719.
Births.
The Birth Rate for 1949 is 16.5 per 1,000 population.
This birth rate is now comparatively stationary for Orpington,
and compares with 16.3 of the previous year. The average
rate since 1934 is 19 per 1,000, but this was inflated by the
immediate post-war years.
Of the 975 births registered, 47 were illegitimate.
Illegitimate Births.
The illegitimate birth rate per 1,000 births for 1949 was 48.
This rate varies from year to year. The average rate over
the fifteen years from 1934 is 45 per 1,000, compared with an
average rate during 1942 to 1947 of 52,