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 1919
Sixty-fourth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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1919]
6
Illegitimate Births (215).—The number of illegitimate births, 215,
shows a decrease of 24 on the return of the year 1918. and is the lowest
record since 1862, when the births numbered 207.
The number of these births in 1919 is the lowest since 1841. This is
satisfactory, although one cannot help thinking that the result has been
obtained only by the adoption of preventive means.
In the main it is a good thing that there were fewer of these little waifs
brought into the world to be a burden on their unfortunate mothers, and,
too frequently to grow up only to become ashamed of themselves, and
castaways to be thrown on the rates or on the charity of public institutions.
In the course of time the majority become nobody's children, are wanted by
no one, and their fate is too often a very sad one.
The number of illegitimate births in the borough since 1841 is shown in the following statement:—
| Periods. | Illegitimate Births. | Total Births. | Illegitimate Births per 100 Registered Births. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1841-50 | 641* | 20,850 | 3.07 |
| 1851-60 | 1,335 | 41,915 | 3.18 |
| 1861-70 | 2,651 | 67,520 | 3.92 |
| 1871-80 | 3,429 | 89,627 | 3.82 |
| 1881-90 | 3,475 | 97,420 | 3.57 |
| 1891-1900 | 2,719 | 97,278 | 2.79 |
| 1901-10 | 2,413 | 87,361 i | 2.76 |
| 1911-19 (9 years) | 2,463 | 64,971 | 3.79 |
| 1919 | 215 | 6,278 | 3. 42 |
* This is an estimated figure, as the returns for only seven years are available.
Theywere notified by doctors, midwives, parents and guardians as follows :—
| Notified by | Still Births. | Live Births. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors | 23 | 44O | 463 |
| Certificated Midwives | 79 | 3,070 | 3,149 |
| Parents and other persons | 55 | 1,961 | 2,0l6 |
| 157 | 5,471 | 5,628 |