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
Wandsworth 1878
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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in 1878 than in 1877. An increase in the deaths among
children was observed over the whole metropolis during the
past year. In the metropolis it is 25.2 per cent. of the entire
deaths. In the Wandsworth District it constitutes 30.0
per cent. This is greatly to be deplored, for undoubtedly
the mortality among infants is attributable to a great
extent to errors in management, feeding, &c., and to other
causes to which we have referred at length in previous
Reports.
The mortality over 80 was strikingly high in 1878.
The deaths numbered 142 and constituted 4.2 per cent.
of the total, in 1877 the number was 104 and the rate
3.5 per cent.
| 1877. | 1878. | |
|---|---|---|
| Nobility and Gentry | 2.5 per cent. | 1.62 per cent. |
| Professional Class | 6.2 „ | 5.08 „ |
| Middle Class | 18.2 „ | 18.10 „ |
| Industrial Class | 73.1 „ | 75.20 „ |
| 100.0 | 100.0 |
It will be noticed that the mortality among the lower
classes has increased, and that of the upper and professional
diminished, the middle class remaining almost stationary.
The increased epidemic mortality accounts for this change.
Sickness among the Union Poor.— Table V. in
the Appendix gives all needful information on this subject.
An increase in the number of cases occurred in all the
Districts except Wandsworth and West Battersea,
amounting in all to nearly 300 cases, and excepting in the