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
Kensington 1904
The annual report on the health, sanitary condition of the Royal Borough of Kensington, etc., etc., for the year 1904
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The occupations of the sufferers, so far as could be ascertained, were as follows:—
| Males— | No. of Cases. |
|---|---|
| Artizan | 34 |
| Labourer | 32 |
| Cabman, coachman, stableman, etc. | 21 |
| Clerk | 12 |
| Shopman, hawker (5 each) | 10 |
| Porter | 4 |
| Tailor | 3 |
| Farrier, gardener, laundryman, costermonger, omnibus conductor, | |
| metal-caster, potman, scavenger, sewerman (2 each) | 18 |
| Engineer, lather, butler, baker, handyman, common lodging-house | |
| keeper, lead-shot maker, sculleryman, waiter, soldier, potman, | |
| window-cleaner, farm bailiff, licensed victualler, cartridge | |
| maker, packer, letter sorter, barman, milk-carrier, accountant, | |
| solicitor (one each) | 21 |
| Children | 11 |
| Unknown | 46 |
| 212 | |
| Females (of whom 63 were married) — | |
| Laundress | 23 |
| Domestic servant | 21 |
| Charwoman | 10 |
| Dressmaker, tailoress, milliner | 5 |
| Governess, nun, hawker (one each) | 3 |
| Children | 13 |
| No occupation, or occupation unknown | 84 |
| 159 | |
| Grand Total | 371 |
The list of "occupations" of the sufferers shows to what a preponderating extent consumption
is a disease of the poorer classes, who are unable to defray the cost of sanatorium treatment.
INFANTILE MORTALITY.
This question, which formed the subject of special enquiries by the lady inspectors in 1902,
and 1903, attracted considerable attention in connexion with the annual report of those officers for
1903, published in my first monthly report for 1904. The question derived increased importance
from the public attention drawn to it by a series of four articles published in The Times (September
17 and 22, November 1 and 9), followed by a leading article on 10th November.
The writer of the special articles expressed the opinion that—
"The unnatural concurrence of a stationary or increasing infantile-mortality with a
falling birth-rate, which so seriously threatens the national vitality, finds its true explanation
neither in external circumstances nor in the employment of women, but in the habits of the
people. Throughout the scale, from mere thoughtlessness to actual murder, the same
elements are seen to be at work, and to tend, in varying degrees, towards repudiation of the
duties of life, and their subordination to ease, comfort, pleasure, and self-indulgence."