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 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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The London death-rate for 1920 was 12 4, for England and Wales 12*4. The number of deaths and the death-rates per 1,000 for a series of years are shown below:—
| Year. | Number of Deaths. | Death-rate. | London Rate. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 2,005 | 12.5 | 150 |
| 1912 | 1,984 | 12.5 | 13.6 |
| 1913 | 2,030 | 12.7 | 14.2 |
| 1914 | 1,946 | 12.7 | 14.4 |
| 1915 | 2,138 | 15.7 | 161 |
| 1916 | 1,827 | 13.7 | 14.3 |
| 1917 | 1,896 | 15.5 | 150 |
| 1918 | 2,062 | 163 | 18.9 |
| 1919 | 1,819 | 14.2 | 13.4 |
| 1920 | 1,600 | 11.8 | 12.4 |
As previously explained, it is impossible to state the rates with any
degree of accuracy, and in the years 1916-18 especially the population
is believed to have been higher than the Registrar-General's estimate.
The rates for 1920 are a marked improvement over those of 1918 due
to the lower mortality from influenza.
The deaths of males were 831, females 769.
The number of deaths attributed to various causes and at various age periods are set out in the table appended to this section of the Report.
| Under 1. | 1 to 2. | 2 to 5. | 5 to 15. | 15 to 25. | 25 to 45. | 45 to. 65. | 65 and up. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | 103 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 20 | 120 | 281 | 277 | 831 |
| F. | 64 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 33 | 102 | 236 | 298 | 769 |
| 1920 | 167 | 18 | 21 | 27 | 53 | 222 | 517 | 575 | 1,600 |
| 1919 | 140 | 24 | 31 | 33 | 80 | 265 | 570 | 676 | 1,819 |
There is an increase in the number of deaths under 1 year, corresponding
to some extent with the increased number of births, but at every
other age period there is a decrease. This is chiefly due to the diminution
of deaths from influenza (from 220 to 41). This was counterbalanced,
especially at the higher ages, by an increase in deaths from diseases of
the heart and arteries (215 to 306), probably after effects of influenza in
the previous year. The wards showing increases in deaths from these
diseases were chiefly Victoria and St. John's, Conduit, Grosvenor and
St. Anne's. Broncho-pneumonia and pneumonia also gave an increased
mortality at the higher ages, which may possibly have been influenzal
in character, as bronchitis deaths were 100 less. Deaths from cancer
rose from 166 to 227. Deaths from accidents and from suicide were
both fewer than in 1919, but deaths from alcoholism and cirrhosis of
the liver rose from 11 to 23.
The deaths were distributed in the wards in the years 1919 and 1920
as follows:—