London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Battersea 1893

Report upon the public health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Battersea during the year1893

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the highest death-rate which can be attributed to Battersea, and
there can be no doubt that many of the so-called parishioners
who die elsewhere do not belong to the parish at all, but are
employed and reside in other parishes, but when ill and
admitted to Hospital give the residence of their parents and
family in Battersea as their place of abode. The death-rate
for the Metropolis for 1893, based upon 91,536 deaths in an
estimated mean population of 4,306,411, was 21.3 per thousand
showing a difference in favour of Battersea of 2.8 per thousand,
after making allowances for the above corrected death-rates.
Table A. This table is compiled uniformly in all sanitary
districts by direction of the Local Government Board.
The broad grouping is the mortality below five years, the
infantile period of life, and above that age. Under five years,
twelve hundred and ninety-seven deaths took place, or forty-six
per cent, of the whole mortality. This shows an immense
reduction of infantile mortality, which some years ago was
usually sixty to sixty-four per cent, of the total mortality.
Sanitarians have always deplored the enormous waste of life
among very young children and the notable reductions of the
proportional number of deaths at this age would seem to give
evidence of improved sanitation and more intelligent care on the
part of parents. On the other hand three hundred and eightyfive
young children under five died from the principal zymotic
diseases, against one hundred and ten at all other ages. It is
evident that much remains to be done to protect the very young
in this direction.
Table I. In this table particulars are given of the deaths
of Battersea parishioners in the various public institutions of the
Metropolis. The particular institution in which death occurred
whether within or without the parish is indicated, together with
immediate cause of death, and these details require no comment.