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

Kensington 1929

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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6
DEATHS.
The number of deaths registered in the borough during the year was 2,889, but this does not
represent the true mortality among the population and, in order to obtain the corrected number
of deaths which does so represent the true mortality, it is necessary to add the deaths of
Kensington "residents" occurring beyond the district to the number registered as actually
occurring in the borough, and to subtract from the total thus arrived at the deaths of "nonresidents"
taking place in the institutions provided in Kensington for the reception of sick or
infirm persons.
Total deaths registered in the borough 2,889
Deaths of residents in public institutions, etc., beyond the borough 552
3,441
Deaths of non-residents in public institutions, etc., within the
borough 733
Corrected number of deaths belonging to the borough 2,708
The corrected number of deaths gives a death-rate of 15.4 per 1,000 living.

Table: The following table shows the number of deaths and the death-rates in England and Wales, London, Kensington and the various districts in the borough in 1929, and the rates for the previous five years:—

The following table shows the number of deaths and the death-rates in England and Wales, London, Kensington and the various districts in the borough in 1929, and the rates for the previous five years:—

District.1929Death-rates in previous years.
No. of deaths.Death-rate.1928.1927.1926.1925.1924
England and Wales532,52513.411.712.311.612.212.2
London61,71013.811.611.911.411.712.1
The Borough2,70815.413.013.812.813.213.0
North Kensington1,43015.413.413.812.913.414.0
South Kensington Wards.1,21014.512.113.411.812.211.4
St. Charles33813.912.012.910.713.712.1
Golborne42116.013.213.813.012.613.4
Norland38817.515.314.515.014.712.5
Pembridge28314.113.414.112.812.713.4
Holland27514.413.213.413.514.112.1
Earl's Court28515.913.513.713.113.814.1
Queen's Gate17612.710.013.28.59.49.2
Redcliffe31415.712.914.511.612.211.3
Brompton16012.59.511.311.510.19.2
Ward Unknown68..................

Table: From the above table, it will be seen that the 1929 death rates in England and Wales, London and in the borough show a considerable increase over the rates for the preceding year and, indeed, over the rates for any recent year. The following table shows the Kensington death-rates since 1896:—

From the above table, it will be seen that the 1929 death rates in England and Wales, London and in the borough show a considerable increase over the rates for the preceding year and, indeed, over the rates for any recent year. The following table shows the Kensington death-rates since 1896:—

Period.Death-rate per 1,000 living.
1896-190016.4
1901-190514.4
1906-191013.8
1911-191514.3
1916-192015.6
1921-192513.2
192612.8
192713.8
192813.0
192915.4

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The main cause for the increased rate throughout the country in 1929 was the severe outbreak
of influenza in the early part of the year. In 1929, there were 153 deaths in Kensington from
influenza as against 26 in the preceding year. Of these 153 deaths, all but seven occurred in the
first five months of the year. Influenza frequently gives rise to bronchitis and pneumonia, which
may be called influenzal bronchitis and influenzal pneumonia. The number of deaths in 1929