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
Lewisham 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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9
Notified Births.
Under an Act of 1907, a birth must he notified to the Medical
Officer of Health within 36 hours. The information obtained in
this manner enables the Health Visitor to exercise supervision of the
mother and infant in the early days succeeding the confinement.
During the year notifications were received of 3,163 live births.
Marriages.
The number of marriages registered in the Borough during the
year was 2,036, compared with 1,766 in 1937. Of this number,
1,113 were solemnised in the Established Church, 258 in Non-conformist
Places of Worship, and 665 at the Register Office.
Deaths.
The number of deaths of Lewisham residents registered in 1938
was 2,403, and the corrected death rate was 10.5 per 1,000 persons.
The deaths and death rates recorded in the last ten years are shown hereunder:—
| Year. | No. of Deaths. | Death Rate. |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 2,409 | 11.5 |
| 1930 | 2,041 | 9.7 |
| 1931 | 2,254 | 10.2 |
| 1932 | 2,263 | 10.2 |
| 1933 | 2,271 | 10.2 |
| 1934 | 2,225 | 10.1 |
| 1935 | 2,214 | 10.0 |
| 1936 | 2,432 | 10.9 |
| 1937 | 2,455 | 10.9 |
| 1938 | 2,403 | 10.5 |
Deaths in Public Institutions.
The deaths occurring in Hospitals and other Public Institutions
in the Borough numbered 1,359, of which 964 were residents, and
466 residents died in Institutions outside the Borough.