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
Paddington 1898
Report on vital statistics and sanitary work for the year 1898
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TABLE 4. Illegitimate Births and Birth-rates.
| Year. | Births Registered. | Birth-rates per 1,000 of Population. | Illegitimate Births per 100 Legitimate. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legitimate. | Illegitimate. | Total. | Legitimate. | Illegitimate. | Total. | ||
increased to 15.3. There is always an increase in
this figure in the first return for each year, and
doubtless when the complete returns for 1898 are
available, the percentage will be nearer 10. Having
regard to the almost universal neglect of vaccination
in this country, these figures cannot be considered
unsatisfactory.
It is interesting to note how the rise and fall in
the percentage of unaccounted-for infants follow the
variations in the prevalence of smallpox. Thus in