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 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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births. 5
The rates spoken of so far have been based on the estimated population (both sexes) at
all ages. Such populations contain very varying proportions of females of the reproductive
ages (15.45 years) in the three civil states—single, married and widowed. The reproductive
powers of the various districts would be more accurately measured by rates for legitimate
births based on the numbers of married women, and for illegitimate on the numbers of the
unmarried and widows. As, however, the data for such comparison are not available in
every case, rates based on the total numbers of females at ages 15.45 years are given in each
of the three last tables.
Illegitimate Births.—The number of these registered in the Borough was 152 (167), and
53 (37) were returned from the Lying.in Hospitals outside the Borough. Of the former, 14,
and of the latter, 17, have to be excluded as not belonging to the Parish, so that the
corrected number of such births is 174. In previous years this correction has not been made,
and for the purpose of comparison with those years the gross total of these births (205) must
be used. In 1904 the total was 204. An analysis on the same lines as previous years is
given below:—
Births of Illegitimates. (Including those in Outlving Hospitals).
| Borough. | St. Mary. | St. John. | North.West Paddington. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 103 | 91 | 10 | 2 |
| Females | 102 | 90 | 8 | 4 |
| Totals | 205 | 181 | 18 | 6 |
| Per cent, of all Births Registered—1905 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 4.3 | 1.4 |
| 1904 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 3.7 | 2.2 |
| 1903 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 6.3 | 2.7 |
| 1902 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 1.8 |
| 1901 | 5.1 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 3.1 |
A better idea of the proportions of illegitimate to legitimate births can be obtained from
Table 4 (two last columns). The percentages for Westbourne (8.5) and Hyde Park (7.6)
Wards can hardly be considered as satisfactory.
Below will be found a complete statement of the birth.rates for the whole Borough
during the past five years :—
Birth.rates : Borough.
Per 1,000 females (15.45) of each class.
| All Births. Married Females. | Legitimate Births. Married Females. | Illegitimate Births. Unmarried Females. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 203.77 | 195.70 | 4.56 |
| 1902 | 199.38 | 190.39 | 5.12 |
| 1903 | 198.08 | 189.74 | 4.75 |
| 1904 | 200.28 | 194.11 | 6.66 |
| 1905 | 195.69 | 185.25 | 5.72 |
Doubtless some part of the reductions in the rates for last year is due to more complete
Correction for births not belonging to the Borough. On the other hand, indications are not
wanting that the birth.rate is still decreasing.
During second half of the year the Women Inspectors and Students visited houses in the
poorer streets where births were recorded as having taken place. Inspections were made for