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
Stepney 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC ANALYST.
FOR THE YEAR 1910.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Stepney.
Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in submitting to you my tenth Annual Report, which
deals with the Vital and Sanitary Statistics of the Borough of Stepney for the year
1910.
Population.
The resident population of the Borough of Stepney estimated to the middle of the year was 316,269; distributed as follows:—
| Limehouse District | 59,464 |
| St. George-in-the-East | 54,071 |
| Mile End Old Town | 120,717 |
| Whitechapel District | 82,017 |
| 316,269 |
There is reason to believe that these figures are somewhat higher than the
actual population at the present time. The further we are removed in time from
the preceding census, the more inexact our estimated population becomes, and the
less reliable are all vital statistics. For statistical and comparative purposes, it is
almost impossible to depart from the method adopted by the Registrar-General in
order to arrive at a correct estimate of the population. This method is based on
the assumption, that the rate of increase which prevailed in the last completed
intercensal period has been maintained since the census was made. The results
obtained by this method are not correct, as is demonstrated when the following
census is taken. In 1901, most of the houses in the Borough were occupied. In
1910, there were 2,529 unoccupied houses in the Borough. In 1901 and previous
years, small houses were demolished and large model dwellings were erected on the
sites, which was not the case in 1910, and the three or 'our years immediately
preceding it.