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
Islington 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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250
1912]
STATE OF PAUPERISM IN THE BOROUGH.
It is unsatisfactory to find that the average number of poor persons relieved
in each week during 1912, amounted to the large figure of 10,131. This return
is 578 above that of the preceding year, and 1,367 above the weekly average
which obtained from 1899-1911. Such an increase was hardly to be expected
considering that the Old Age Pensions scheme had come into full operation.
The following statement shows the average number of poor people relieved in each week in the last 13 years:—
| 1899 | 6,854 Per week relieved. |
| 1900 | 6,956 „ |
| 1901 | 7.327 „ |
| 1902 | 7,668 „ |
| 1903 | 8,004 „ |
| 1904 | |
| 1905 | 9.224 |
| 1906 | 9,069 „ |
| 1907 | 9.599 „ |
| 1908 | 10,349 „ |
| 1909 | 10,476 „ |
| 1910 | 10,773 „ |
| 1911 | 9,553 „ |
| Average | 8,764 |
| 1912 | 10,131 |
Indoor Paupers. — The average number relieved in each week was
5,030, or 56 more than that which obtained in the preceding year, and as
contrasted with a weekly average of 4,325 in the decennium 1902-1911.
Outdoor Paupers —On an average 5,101 poor persons were relieved
in each week as compared with 4,579 in 1911, with 5,755 in 1910, and with a
decennial weekly average of 4,955. Of the 5,101 poor persons, the average
number of adults was 2,937, and of children under 16 years of age 2,164.
Vagrants. No vagrants were relieved, as the wards were closed in
January, 1909.
Children Boarded out —On a weekly average, these numbered 99, as
compared with 102 in the preceding year. They were also 22 less than the
decennial weekly average of the years 1902-1911.