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 1884
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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| Social Position. | Total Deaths. | Deaths from Zymotic Diseases. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | Decennial Average. | 1884 | Decennia 1 Average. | |
| Nobility and Gentry | 3.82 | 3.62 | 3.13 | 0.11 |
| Professional Class, Merchants, Bankers, &c. | 5.55 | 5.33 | 1.56 | |
| Middle and Trading Classes, Clerks, &c. | 24.13 | 19.93 | 25.00 | 19.63 |
| Industrial and Labouring Classes | 66.50 | 71.22 | 70.31 | 75.00 |
| 100.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 100-00 | |
The amount of mortality borne by the labouring classes
proportionally to that of the other classes combined, which
has shewn a gradual diminution for a considerable number
of years, underwent a still further and greater reduction
during the past year. This reduction amounted to no less
than 4.72 per cent of the total mortality and to 4.69 per cent
of the deaths that resulted from zymotic disease, and
furnishes very satisfactory evidence of the successful progress
of sanitation.
Age at death. Infant Mortality;—There was an increase
in the mortality of children under 5 years of age, mostly
due to a greater fatality from Diarrhoea, the whole of
the deaths from that disease having occurred, with three
exceptions, to children under that age. The deaths of infants
under 1 year of age formed 25 per cent of the total deaths,
the average having been 22T per cent; of children under 5
years of age, 37 per cent, the average having been 34.9 per
cent; and of all under 20 years of age 41.8 per cent, the
average having been 41.5. Calculated from the number of
births the death-rate of infants under 1 year of age was 13.4
per cent and corresponded exactly with the average of the
preceding ten years.