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 1900
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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42
[Appendix IV.
This will be illustrated by comparing the mortality at all ages and at ages under 15 years in the two sub-districts of the Parish:—
| 1900. | Mortality rates per 1,000 persons. | |
|---|---|---|
| At all ages. | Under 15 years of age. | |
| St. Mary | 0.49 | 1.70 |
| St. John | 0.12 | 0.66 |
In other words, whilst the mortality per 1,000 persons at all ages showed a rate in St. Mary four
times that in St. John, the true rates were only as 2.5 to 1 (approximately). It will he noted that
TABLE 20. Deaths from Selected Causes.
| Causes of Death at all Ages (persons). | Paddington. | St. Mary. | St. John. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900. | Averages.* | 1900. | Averages* | 1900. | Averages.* | |||||||
| 1890 to 1894. | 1895 to 1899. | 1890 to 1899. | 1890 to 1894. | 1895 to 1899. | 1890 to 1899. | 1890 to 1894. | 1895 to 1899. | 1890 to 1899. | ||||
| Small-pox | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | _ | 0 | _ | 0 | |
| Measles | 52 | 57 | 45 | 51 | 48 | 52 | 42 | 47 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Scarlet Fever | 5 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 5 | 14 | 12 | 13 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Whooping Cough | 34 | 63 | 41 | 51 | 30 | 55 | 38 | 46 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Diphtheria | 27 | 62 | 57 | 59 | 25 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 7 |
| "Fever" | 11 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Diarrhœa | 103 | 70 | 97 | 84 | 94 | 63 | 86 | 75 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 9 |
| Totals | 232 | 287 | 269 | 277 | 213 | 249 | 240 | 245 | 19 | 38 | 29 | 32 |
| Puerperal Fever | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | _ | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Diseases of Parturition | 5 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Other Septic Diseases | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Epidemic Influenza | 89 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 61 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 28 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
| Alcoholism | 10 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Cirrhosis of Liver | 26 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Malignant Dis. (Cancer) | 129 | 115 | 124 | 119 | 104 | 83 | 91 | 88 | 25 | 32 | 33 | 32 |
| Phthisis | 142 | 181 | 156 | 168 | 120 | 154 | 129 | 142 | 22 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
| Other Tubercular Diseases | 74 | 89 | 71 | 79 | 65 | 74 | 63 | 68 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 11 |
| Apoplexy | 92 | 100 | 91 | 95 | 65 | 75 | •69 | 72 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 23 |
| Bronchitis | 269 | 298 | 240 | 269 | 230 | 237 | 201 | 221 | 39 | 61 | 39 | 48 |
| Pneumonia | 127 | 185 | 215 | 149 | 105 | 143 | 95 | 119 | 22 | 42 | 20 | 30 |
| Suicides | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
* Averages corrected for changes in population, and adjusted to nearest whole numbers.
" 0 "—an average less than unity.
" — "—no death recorded.
the real mortality (that under 15 years) in St. John was more than five times the rate at all ages,
hut in St. Mary not four times. This disturbing factor in rates based on population at all ages has
to be kept in mind in comparing the various rates given in Table 18. As the figures stand in that
Table, the comparison is highly favourable to the Parish.