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
Finsbury 1905
Report on the public health of Finsbury 1905 including annual report on factories and workshops
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The birth rate for London was 27.1. Of the 3,398 births in
Finsbury, 622 took place in the City of London Lying-in Hospital,
and of this number only 110 rightly belonged to the Borough.
Consequently, after correction, the total number of births belonging
to the Borough was not 3,398, but 2,886, which gives a birth rate of
29'4 per 1,000 of the population. Of the 3,398 births in Finsbury,
1,681 were boys and 1,717 were girls.
The birth rates of Finsbury (in sub.registration districts) since the Borough was formed have been as follows:—
| The Borough. | North Clerkenvell. | South Clerkenwell. | Finsbury. | St.Sepulchre. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 37.3 | 30.2 | 30.9 | 50.8 | 20.1 |
| 1902 | 36.0 | 30.1 | 30.4 | 45.6 | 23.1 |
| 1903 | 36.4 | 30.5 | 30.9 | 47.3 | 20.3 |
| 1904 | 36.4 | 31.5 | 29.7 | 47.1 | 20.5 |
| 1905 | 34.6 | 29.1 | 29.0 | 45.3 | 13.2 |
These rates include the births taking place in the City of London
Lying-in Hospital, only about one-sixth of which belong to the
Borough of Finsbury. This is the reason why the Finsbury birth
rate is frequently stated to be so high. The corrected birth rates
for the last five years have been, 1901, 32.0 ; in 1902, 31.7; in 1903,
31.4 ; in 1904, 31.3 ; and in 1905, 29.4.
Out of the total of 2,886 births belonging to Finsbury in 1905,
2,220 have been visited by the lady inspectors. It will be
remembered that at the beginning of the year arrangements
were made by the Registrar.General, by which the local registrars
might supply the local authority with a return of the births
registered from week to week. This has been done, and as we have
received these returns the lady inspectors have taken the names and
addresses of those infants in which it seemed that good might come
of the visit of an inspector. Out of the 2,220 we have collected a
number of particulars respecting 1,859 infants, and it may be well,
briefly, to refer to the data obtained.