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 1909
Fifty-fourth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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249
[1909
STATE OF PAUPERISM IN THE BOROUGH
The state of pauperism in Islington shows no improvement as regards the
number of persons in receipt of relief.
For the last 10 or 12 years there has been a steady increase in the number
of persons receiving parish relief either within or without the Workhouse.
Thus, in 1898 persons in receipt of relief averaged 6,635, whereas in 1909
they amounted to 10,476 on a weekly average. In 1908 the number was 10,349,
9,599 in 1907, and 9,069 in 1906. The present return is the second in which
the weekly average has reached five figures. It shows that 127 more persons
were in receipt of weekly relief than in 1908, which itself was 750 per week in
excess of the return of 1907. Such figures prove conclusively that work has
been scarce in London.
The average number of paupers relieved in each year since 1899 has been
as follows:—
1899
6,854 Per week relieved.
1900
6,956 „
1901
7.327 „
1902
7,668 „
1903
8,004 „
1904
8,086 ,,
1905
9.224 „
1906
9,069 „
1907
9.599 „
1908
10,349 „
Average
8,313 „
1909
10,476 „
Indoor Paupers.—The average number relieved each week was 4,864,
or 306 in excess of the average which obtained in the preceding year, and as
contrasted with a weekly average of 3,867 in the decennium 1899-1908.
Outdoor Paupers.—On an average 5,612 were relieved in each week,
as compared with 5,791 in 1908, with 5,338 in 1907, and with a decennial
weekly average of 4,447. Of these paupers, the average number of adults was
3,649, and of children under 16 years of age 1,963.
There has, therefore, been an increase in the average number of indoor
cases of relief, and a decrease in outdoor. The policy apparently, is to drive
people into the workhouse instead of affording outdoor relief. It is certain
to be efficacious in reducing the total amount of relief granted, but it is doubtful
if it is the right course to pursue, for there are many poor people who would
sooner starve than enter the workhouse, especially as it too often entails the
breaking up of their families and homes.