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 1903
Forty-eighth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough of Islington
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223
[1903
THE STATE OF PAUPERISM.
The weekly average number of persons relieved shows a large increase on
the average of the preceding seven years, for no less than 8,004 persons were
relieved per week as against an average of 6,909, or an increase of 1,095.
The returns since 1896 have been as follows:—
| 1896 | 6,436 per week relieved. |
| 1897 | 6,486 „ |
| 1898 | 6,635 „ |
| 1899 | 6,854 „ |
| 1900 | 6,956 „ |
| 1901 | 7,327 „ |
| 1902 | 7,668 „ |
| Average | 6,909 „ |
| 1903 | 8,004 |
| Increase | 1,095 |
It will be noticed from these figures that there has been a progressive
increase in each year, so that compared with 1896 the increase now recorded
is 1,564, truly a very substantial one.
Outdoor Paupers.—The weekly average of outdoor paupers who were
relieved a mounted to 4,125, of whom 2,739 were adults and 1,386 children
under sixteen years of age, as respectively compared with averages during the
preceding nine years of 2,331 and 1,307.
Indoor Paupers.—Including adults and children these numbered on
a weekly average 3,879, being an increase on the mean of the years 1896-1902.
Vagrants Relieved.—These averaged 17 per week, which is exactly the
average of the preceding nine years, although 7 per week above that of the
preceding year. Still in a large borough like Islington it cannot be said to be
excessive.
Children Boarded Out.—The average number cf children boarded out
was 127, which is 9 above the mean number of the nine years immediately
preceding.