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Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsen.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Seventh Annual Report on the sanitary condition of the
Borough of Bermondsey during the year 1907. The report deals with the 52 weeks
beginning December 29th, 1906, and ending December 28th, 1907. The death rate was 18.3,
compared with 19.7 in 1906 and 18.6 in 1905. This is the lowest death rate as yet recorded
in Bermondsey.
No serious outbreaks of infectious disease occurred during the year, but the mild type of
scarlet fever mentioned in the last report still continued very prevalent. There was a slight
decrease in diphtheria.
The sections of the report are, as usual, divided into:—
I. —Vital Statistics.
II.—Notification of Infectious Diseases.
III.—Sanitary Administration.
IV. —Factories and Workshops.
In the Appendix will be found the Local Government Board Tables, including a special
Table on Infantile Mortality.
Again I may record my thanks to the Chairman and Members of the Public Health
Committee for their cordiality and co-operation throughout the year. Thanks are also due to
the members of the staff for their hearty co-operation in carrying out the various duties
devolving on the Public Health Department.
I am, gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
R.K.BROWN.
I.—VITAL STATISTICS.
Population.
The populations of the Borough of Bermondsey and its registration sub-districts, as
enumerated in the Census of 1891, 1896 and 1901, and the estimate for the year under report
are as follow : —
1891.
1896.
1901.
Estimate, 1907.
Bermondsey
84,682
85,475
82,483
81,610
Rotherhithe
39,225
40,379
38,460
38,197
St. Olave's
12,723
11,731
9,817
8,049
Borough
136,660
137,585
130,760
127,856
The estimate of the population in Bermondsey for 1907 shows a still further decrease
from the Census of 1901.
At this distance from the last Census it is very difficult to give an accurate estimate,
but, apart from the replacing of small houses by warehouses, the number of empty houses would
seem to point to a decrease.
The latter circumstance is probably entirely due to the increased facilities of transit