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
Merton and Morden 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
This page requires JavaScript
The Registrar General's figures differ very slightly in one
or two instances from those compiled from local records.
Where statistics in this report are stated for the district as
a whole, the Registrar General's figures are given, but where
comparative figures, e.g., as between wards, age groups, etc.,
are shown these are necessarily based on local information,
and may differ slightly in the aggregate from the Registrar
General's totals.
POPULATION.
The Registrar General's estimate of the mid-year population is 65,530.
My own estimate based on local information is 66,450, distributed in wards as follows:—
| Wards | Houses at mid. 1937 | Estimated Population mid. 1937 |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey | 1,210 | 4,335 |
| Bushey Mead | 2,113 | 7,596 |
| Central | 2,388 | 7,958 |
| Morden | 1,336 | 4,476 |
| Park | 2,763 | 9,870 |
| Ravensbury | 1,804 | 7,485 |
| Raynes Park | 1,853 | 6,536 |
| St. Helier | 2,706 | 11,614 |
| West Barnes | 1,880 | 6,580 |
| Whole District | 18,053 | 66,450 |
BIRTHS.
The number of live births registered during the year was
812, giving a birth rate of 12.3 compared with 12.9 in the
preceding year. Of the total 429 were males and 383 females.
Twenty-one were illegitimate.
Stillbirths numbered 24, 13 being males and 11 females.
Two of these were illegitimate.
Ward Distribution. For comparative purposes as between
wards use is made of the births which occurred during the
year and not those registered, since details with regard to
10