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
Chelsea 1926
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chelsea, 1926
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of the five Wards in the Borough is as follows :—Church Ward, 124;
Stanley Ward, 122 ; Hans Town Ward, 93 ; Cheyne Ward, 83; Royal
Hospital Ward, 59.
Analysis of the 1921 Census figures shows that there is a grea er
proportion of unoccupied and retired persons in Chelsea than in any
other Metropolitan borough. There is, however, a considerable " working
class" population. Thus, of a total of 21,000 adult males, about
17,000 are occupied. The chief occupations are transport work (2,990),
personal service (1,971), metal work (1,144), and clerical work (1,017).
Nearly one-half of the 32,000 adult females are occupied. Of these,
domestic servants account for 9,900, dressmakers number 1,355, shop
assistants 1,900, and clerks 1,200.
There are no dangerous or offensive trades carried on in the Borough.
There is no evidence that any of the occupations of the inhabitants
exerts a deleterious influence on the public health.
VITAL STATISTICS.
In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health, the
following extracts from the Vital Statistics of the year are shown below.
TABLE NO. 2.
| Births—Legitimate | 789 |
| „ Illegitimate | 73 |
| 862 | |
| Birth Rate | 13.3 |
| Deaths | 812 |
| Death Rate | 12.5 |
| Number of women dying in, or in consequence of childbirth | 3 |
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| Deaths of infants under one year | 55 |
| (a) Legitimate | 43 |
| (b) Illegitimate | 12 |
| Infantile Mortality Rate | 64 |
| Deaths from Measles (all ages) | 16 |
| „ „ Whooping Cough (all ages) | 8 |
| ,, „ Diarrhœa (under 2 years) | 14 |
| Zymotic Death Rate | 0.7 |
| Deaths from the Zymotic Diseases | 46 |
| Tuberculosis Death Rate | 0.9 |
BIRTHS.
During the year 930 births were registered in Chelsea, 483 being boys
and 447 girls. Of these, births of non-parishioners account for 282,
and must be deducted. In addition, there were 214 births amongst
Chelsea mothers in Lying-in Hospitals and elsewhere outside the Borough,
104 boys and 110 girls. Thus the total number of Chelsea births for the
year was 862, of which 447 were males and 415 females.
The following Tables are self-explanatory :—