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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF
HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1920.
To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons of the
Corporation of London.
Public Health Department,
Guildhall, E.C.,
June, 1921.
My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen,
I beg to present herewith the Report of the Medical Officer of Health of the
Corporation of the City of London for the year 1920.
INTRODUCTORY.
The year has not been a particularly eventful one, and endeavours have been
mainly directed towards overtaking arrears of work which accumulated as a
consequence of the War, and ensuring that temporary concessions which were granted
during the same period were terminated.
The vital statistics contained in this Report are probably inaccurate so far as the
calculated rates are affected.
The population given is probably an under-estimate, but in view of the fact that
an accurate record will be available during the present year it was not thought worth
while undertaking any extensive enquiry to endeavour to obtain a more accurate
basis of calculation. If there is an under-statement of population both the death and
the birth rate will be too high. The greater error will be in connection with the death
rate, inasmuch as there are debited against the City, records of deaths of many persons
who possibly have no connection with the City, but who, having died outside London,
have given London as their place of residence. The birth rate is more nearly
approximated to accuracy since the births of City residents occurring outside the City
boundaries are not accurately adjusted, and this will prove somewhat of a set-off
against any calculation based on an under-estimate of the population.
AREA.
The City of London Registration District comprises an area of 675.2 acres
(excluding tidal water and foreshore), or 1.051 square miles, equal to a square of
1.0252 miles to a side.
The area of "Registration London" is 74,817 acres (excluding tidal water and
foreshore), or 116.9 square miles, equal to a square of 10.81 miles to a side.
DENSITY (1920).
City of London, Registration District, at night 18.01 persons to an acre.
,, ,, ,, ,, during the day *562.3 ,, ,,
Registration London, at night 60.5 ,, ,,
* This figure refers only to persons "actively engaged in the City during the daytime," and is based upon a
Census taken in May, 1911.
ANNUAL RATEABLE VALUE.
The rateable value of property within the administrative county of London
(excluding the City) was £39,829,883 on 6th April, 1920; whilst on the same date
the corresponding rateable value of property in the City of London was £5,808,818,
or about one-seventh of the whole County.
POPULATION.
The undermentioned figures are extracted from the Report of the Registrar-General
on the Census of England and Wales, 1911 (County of London):—
Area, Inhabited Houses. Population.
Statute
Acres. 1901. 1911. 1901. 1911.
City of London 672.7 3,865 2,784 26,923 19,657
These figures represent the population on the nights of the 1st April, 1901, and
the 3rd April, 1911.