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
Hackney 1908
Report on the sanitary condition of the Hackney District for the year 1908
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density has been increasing year by year, and that the Borough is
changing more and more from a suburban residential district to an
urban industrial centre. Increasing density of population, and the
change from suburban residential to urban industrial conditions are
usually marked by an unfavourable change in mortality statistics.
This has not been the case in connection with Hackney. In spite
of increasing density and the gradual change to urban conditions the
annual mortality from all causes and the infant mortality have
progressively declined. The following table will illustrate this
favourable change and the increasing healthiness of the Borough, in
spite of adverse circumstances.
Table showing Density of Population, Annual Mortality from all causes and Infant Mortality in the Borough of Hackney, during the 10 years ending 1908.
| Year. | Density. | General Death Rate (per 1,000 living). | Infantile Mortality Rate (per 1,000 births). |
|---|---|---|---|
In reference to the subject of Infant Mortality I may incidentally
mention the institution in the Borough during the past year by the
Mayor, Alderman Billings, of an agency for training Voluntary
Health Visitors, for the purpose of visiting and giving to parents
needing it elementary instruction in the care and feeding of infants.
I look forward with some confidence to this agency doing much
good in the Borough.
I am pleased to state that the officers of the Public Health
Department have, on the whole, carried out the duties entrusted to
them to my entire satisfaction.