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

Camberwell 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell]

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Table: Vital Statistics.The vital and mortal statistics of every ward in the Borough for the year 1932 are given in the following table:—

Vital Statistics.

The vital and mortal statistics of every ward in the Borough for the year 1932 are given in the following table:—

Wards.Estimated Population.Births.Deaths under 1 yearDeaths all ages.
No.Rate Per 1000.No.Rate Per 1000.No.Rate Per 1000.
114,29928519.9279516911.8
212,84522617.6125313610.6
313,01618514.294916212.4
414,72622315.1104518112.3
514,23223316.42190157116
611,86619616.594613611.5
714,48023416.2114716311.3
814,08720414.5178317512.4
914,69322915.6156516211.0
107,59910714.11110311715.4
1110,69113112.396913312.4
1212,33220116.3157514912.1
1310,87813712.685813312.2
1410,34817016.4116514914.4
1512,07417014.1105913711.3
1613,53919614.5115618613.7
1713,67915911.695715511.3
1816,57717210.495219411.7
J911,96412510.475614412.1
204,075317.63974511.0
The Borough248,0003,61414.6234652,98312.0

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Notification of Births Act.
During the year 3,306 births were notified as follows under the
provisions of this Act, representing over 90 per cent., of number
of births registered during the period January 1st to December 31st,
1932:—
Live Births. Still Births.
By Medical Practitioners 1,350 44
By Midwives 1,278 27
By Parents 108 1
By Nurses and other persons 485 13
The early information of births in the area which the Notification
of Births Act 1907 provides is of considerable value, as it
enables the Health Visitors to follow up and supervise the health
of the mother immediately after the doctor or midwife has ceased
attendance.
It is interesting to record that 1,530 of these births, or 46 per
cent., took place in Institutions, such as Hospitals and private
Nursing Homes.
Still-Births.
The Registrar-General provided the following information
regarding the number of registered still-births in the Camberwell
area during 1932:—
Still-Births.
Legitimate 95
Illegitimate 11
Dwindling Birth Rate.
There is no doubt that the principal cause of the steady decline
of the birth rate in recent years is not so much due to natural
barrenness but to the practice of artificial limitation of families, or
what is generally described as Birth Control. Unfortunately, the
small families of two to four children are more frequently found in