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 1891
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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reference to the figures it will be seen that the diminution
in the total mortality, as well as in that resulting from
zymotic disease which has been slightly, but perceptibly,
taking place for many years amongst the industrial
classes has continued during the past year. This satisfactory
result furnishes reliable evidence of the certain albeit
slow progress in the work of sanitation. Such progress
must be necessarily slow until the public, and especially
that section of it which suffers most from insanitary conditions
and knows least of what these conditions are,
becomes educated to a recognition of the importance of
sanitary knowledge; and here I would remark that much
good in this direction would be undoubtedly accomplished
if some simple rudimentary instruction on the natural
laws relating to the maintenance of a healthy existence
were introduced into Board Schools, and indeed all
other Schools.
| Social Position. | Total Deaths. | Deaths from Zymotic Diseases. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891. | Decennial average. | 1891. | Decennial Average. | |
| Nobility and Gentry | 3.3 | 3.06 | 1.03 | 0.74 |
| Professional Class, Merchants, Bankers, &c. | 5.0 | 5.16 | 2.06 | 5.46 |
| Middle & Trading Classes, Clerks, &c | 28.2 | 24.41 | 22.68 | 18.43 |
| Industrial and Labouring Classes | 63.5 | 67.37 | 74.23 | 75.37 |
| 100.00 | 100.00 | 100. 00 | 100.00 | |
Infantile Mortality. The actual death-rate of infants determined
from the number of births registered and the
number of deaths that occurred under one year of age
during the year was 11.89 per cent., the decennial
average being 13.1 per cent.