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 1904

Forty-ninth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough of Islington

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Table: The death-rate from Phthisis in Islington during the last twelve years has remained practically stationary, as the following figures prove :—

The death-rate from Phthisis in Islington during the last twelve years has remained practically stationary, as the following figures prove :—

Years.Rate per 1,000 population.Years.Rate per 1,000 population.Years.Rate per 1,000 population.
18921.5618961.5719001.79
18931.7118971.5419011.62
18941.6318981.5619021.50
18951.7018991.7319031.45

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Mean rate 1892 to 1903—1.61 per 1,000.

Table: During the last thirty years, but especially during the last ten years, there has, however, been a gradual decrease in the number of these deaths, which are still enormously excessive, throughout England and Wales, as is shown in the following statement:—

During the last thirty years, but especially during the last ten years, there has, however, been a gradual decrease in the number of these deaths, which are still enormously excessive, throughout England and Wales, as is shown in the following statement:—

Deaths all ages per million of the population.Deaths under 5 years per million living at this age.
1851.602,5791,329
1861.702,467990
1871.862,209783
1881.851,927584
1886.901,781521
1891.951.634467
1896.19001,521403

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GENERAL.
A consumptive, we have seen, dies just at that period when life is most
valuable, as computed in pounds, shillings and pence, and is also most precious
in the family circle for it removes the bread winners, or the mothers whose
existence is so important for the young offspring. To stay the course of this
disease, however, practically nothing is done; and yet it has now been
demonstrated beyond doubt that it, too, is very amenable to preventive and
sanitary measures, and that consequently its spread can be retarded.
Notification and disinfection are the two chief agencies in its prevention.
The former will give us information as to its habitation and will place in our
hands an opportunity of studying the means by which it is disseminated, and
will also be useful, as Koch said in his great address, "in order to learn where