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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41
[1912
SEASONAL MORTALITY.
The mortality which obtained in the several quarters of the year as usual
varied considerably. Almost as an invariable rule the highest mortality of
any year occurs in its first quarter and the least in the third; while that of
the fourth usually exhibits a death-rate only slightly below that of the first.
The sequence then of the death-rates of the quarters from highest to lowest
mortality is first quarter, fourth quarter, second quarter, third quarter.
In 1912 the deaths and death-rates are shown in the following tabular statement, which gives also the mean decennial death-rates as well as those for the 26 years 1886-1911.
| Quarter. | 1912. | 1902-11. | 1886-1911. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 16.22 | 17.72 | 19.49 |
| Second | 12.96 | 13.65 | 15.06 |
| Third | 12.36 | 12.86 | 14.80 |
| Fourth | 15.67 | 15.92 | 17.10 |
These figures speak for themselves, for in every instance they show that
the death-rates for the several quarters last year were not only below the mean
rates for the preceding 26 years, 1886-1911, but also below that for the 10
years, 1902-11. Thus the progressive improvement in the mortality returns
has not been confined to any particular quarter of the year, but has been
common to all.
First Quarter.—The deaths numbered 1,324, as compared with the
corrected average of 1,446 in the ten years, 1902-1911, and were equivalent
to an annual death-rate of 16.22 per 1,000 of the population, as compared with
a mean decennial death-rate of 17.72. Only on two occasions, namely, in 1905
and 1910, has the death-rate been so low, while it has been as high as 27.13.
Second Quarter.—The number of registered deaths was 1,058 while
their resulting death-rate was 12.96 per 1,000 of the population. In this
quarter also the death-rate compared with other similar quarters was very low,
for only in 1908 and 1911 has it been so good, when it was respectively 12.26
and 13 00 per 1,000.
Third Quarter.—1,009 deaths were registered, or 201 below the
corrected average for 26 years. These deaths were equal to an annual deathrate
of 12.36 per 1,000, as compared with a mean decennial rate of 12.86.