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
Islington 1893
Thirty-eighth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington
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43
I am sorry to have to say that the importance of these precautions
is not very well understood, and that they are infrequently carried
out. School teachers and school managers have a great responsibility
resting on their shoulders; and it is to be hoped that they will, at
all events in Islington, adopt, and systematically effect, these very
necessary measures for the prevention of sickness, and possibly death,
amongst their scholars.
The total deaths in Islington numbered 189, and produced a deathrate
which was equal to 0•57 per 1,000 of the population per annum.
The deaths and death-rates in the several Sub-Districts were as follows:—
| Deaths. | Death Rate. | |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Holloway | 54 | 0.56 |
| South West Islington | 68 | 0.63 |
| South East Islington | 48 | 0.73 |
| Highbury | 19 | 0.31 |
| Parish | 189 | 0.57 |
From this table it is seen that in proportion to its population the
Sub-District of South East Islington, suffered most severely, while next
in order came South West Islington, Upper Holloway, and Highbury.
The disease in the first quarter showed only a death-rate of 0•39,
but as each quarter succeeded the other it rose higher and higher, until
in the fourth it was as high as 0•76.
And here it will be well to compare the incidence of the disease in Islington with that in the Metropolis, and in the 33 great cities of England.
| London | 0•60 | 0•63 | 0•80 | 1•01 |
| 33 Large Towns | 0•36 | 0•37 | 0•44 | 0•54 |
| Islington | 0•39 | 0•51 | 0•63 | 0•76 |
This return shows that while in each period the local rate was not
nearly so good as in the great towns, yet it was not so high as that of
the Metropolis.