London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of Westminster 1909

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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bring it within the limit. There is little doubt also that some births
were never registered at all. Another result has been to secure greater
accuracy in names and addresses. The names of some of the Bussiar,
and Polish inhabitants are difficult to pronounce, consequently, from
this or other reasons, they became modified or changed altogether, the
first name being often taken as the surname; then, sometimes, the wife
gives her maiden name instead of her married name, so that a family
may appear in different lists under various appellations.
During the year notification was received of 1,612 births which
took place in Westminster; of these, 41 were stillborn children. By
taking all the births which were registered as having occurred after the
18th January, and by noting which of these particular births had been
notified, it is found that the proportion of births notified was 64.8 per
cent, for the Citv.

The percentages in the several registration areas were as follows:—

May fair Registration District.Births Registered.Births Notified.Percentage.
Mayfair1673520.9
Belgrave80250060.2
St. John70958682.7
St. James33118355.2
Strand1318464.1
The City2,1401,38864.8

The difference between 1,388 and 1,612 is due to the omission of
notified births in the latter months of the year which were not registered
by the 31st December. Still births, which are not registrable, are also
excluded.
The notifications were made by parents in 326 instances, 609 by
doctors, 492 by midwives, 185 by other persons.
In addition, information is received through the County Council of
births coining to their knowledge in their work of supervising midwives,
and from Medical Officers of Health of boroughs in which there is a
maternity hospital; births occurring in such an institution would be
registered in the borough in which it is situate. Notice of 200 births
were so received. Further, the Health Society received 700 names of
women expecting to become mothers from six hospitals and three
maternity societies.
Visiting'of the families was carried out by Miss Horn, the Council's
Health Visitor, assisted by a staff of voluntary workers. Suitable
b