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
City of Westminster 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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17
Deaths.
2,437 deaths were registered in the City in the 53 weeks ending the
2nd January, 1909. After deducting 1,089 deaths of non-citizens in
public institutions in the City, and adding those of 829 citizens who died
in other districts, the corrected total is 2,177, and is equivalent to
an annual rate of 12.3 per 1,000 persons. The London death-rate
for the same period was 13.8, and for England and Wales 14.7.
The rates were in each instance below the average of the preceding
ten years to the following extent: The City 1.6 per 1,000, London
2.9 per 1,000, and England and Wales 1.7 per 1.000.
A Factor for Correction of Death-rates, whereby differences in
the age and sex constitution of the population may be removed,
is arrived at by obtaining the age and sex distribution of the
population of a district at the last census; after ascertaining the
death-rate for each sex, at each age-period in England and Wales
during the last ten years, a calculation is made of the number of deaths
which would have occurred in the district had similar rates been
obtained; thus a " standard" death-rate is obtained. The difference
between this rate and that for England and Wales is, on the above
assumption, due to differences in the age and sex constitution on
the population of the district, and dividing the latter by the former
a factor is obtained for correcting the crude death-rate of the
district.
Applying such factors (1.0511 for London, 1.12176 for Westminster) to the 1908 rates, the figures are:—
| District. | Standard death-rate. | Recorded death-rate. | Corrected death-rate. | Comparative mortality figure. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 18.19 | 14.7 | 14.7 | 1,000 |
| County of London | 17.31 | 13.8 | 14.5 | 983 |
| City of Westminster | 16.22 | 12.3 | 13.7 | 932 |
The Metropolitan rate thus compares favourably with that of the
rest of England.
For the seven previous years, 1901-07, the comparative mortality
figures were for the County 1,065, 1,100, 1,032, 1,042, 1,039, 1,025, and
1,020, and for the City 1,100, 1,082, 1,025, 940, 993, 941, and 960.
Tables VI to XIII show the vital statistics of the City and five
groups of districts from 1891 to 1908.
The death-rates, according to the old districts of the City, are:—