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
Holborn 1920
Report for the year 1920 of the Medical Officer of Health
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The infantile mortality, i.e., the number of deaths of young children under one
year of age per 1,000 corrected births was 66 for the year 1920 in comparison with 96
for the year 1919. Although the legititmate infantile mortality was only 60 per 1,000
the illegitimate mortality was 128 per 1,000, more than twice as much.
Of the 603 deaths at all ages, 387 died in hospitals and public institutions either
within or without the Borough.
The principal causes of death for the year 1920 in comparison with 1919 were as follows:-
| 1920 | 1919 | |
|---|---|---|
| Influenza | 11 | 46 |
| Respiratory Diseases | 123 | 112 |
| Tuberculosis (all forms) | 55 | 75 |
| Cancer, Malignant Disease | 57 | 60 |
| Organic Heart Disease | 69 | 58 |
| Premature Birth, Congenital Malformation and Debility | 17 | 18 |
| Violent (including Suicide) | 33 | 29 |
| Seven Principal Epidemic Diseases, viz: Smallpox, Measles, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria and Membranous Croup, Whooping Cough, Typhoid and Typhus Fevers and Diarrhoea (under two years) | 27 | 14 |
Registered Births and Birth Rate.
The total number of births registered in the Borough was 619, being 300 males
and 319 females. Of the 619, 601 were legitimate and 18 illegitimate. The registered
birth-rate per 1,000 of the population was 15.3.
Corrected Births and Birth-Rate.
I received from the Registrar-General information of the births in outlying
institutions in London of 163 legitimate infants and 61 illegitimate infants whose
mothers were residents of the Borough. Fifteen of the 601 registered legitimate births
and 1 of the 18 illegitimate births were infants of mothers who were non-residents of
the Borough.
The corrected numbers therefore are as follows:—
| Year. | Corrected number of Births of Residents. | Corrected Birth-rate per 1000. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legitimate. | Illegitimate. | Total. | ||
| 1920 | 749 | 78 | 827 | 20.8 |
| 1919 | 447 | 62 | 539 | 13.6 |
In London the corrected number of births was 120,529 or a rate of 26.5 per
1,000, in comparison with 18 3 for 1919.