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
London County Council 1894
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Table I.
Mean future lifetime of males and females in groups of ajes (calculated from London life tables, 1881-90).
| Age groups. | Males. | Females. | Age groups. | Males. | Females. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years. | Years. | Years. | Years. | ||
| 0— | 49.06 | 52.69 | 35— | 24.19 | 27.24 |
| 5— | 48.94 | 52.68 | 45— | 18.15 | 20.57 |
| 10— | 45.05 | 48.80 | 55— | 12.95 | 14.56 |
| 15— | 40.79 | 44.55 | 65— | 8.89 | 9.78 |
| 20— | 36.70 | 40.39 | 75- | 6.35 | 6.74 |
| 25— | 31.04 | 34.51 | 85 and upwards | 2.75 | 2.85 |
By comparing the mean deaths occurring at each age period in 1891-4 with the deaths
which would have occurred at these age periods if the death rates of 1881-90 had still been
maintained, the differences between the two sets of figures will be the number of lives gained or
lost at each age period by fluctuations of mortality, and by applying to these differences the figures
in the preceding table the actual gain or loss may be expressed in " life capital."
The result of this process is shown in the following table—
Table II.
| Age groups. | Deaths calculated according to mean rates 1881-90. | Mean deaths occurring in the four years 1891-4. | Mean annual gain (+) or loss (—) of lives in the four years 1891-4 by fluctuations of mortality. | Mean annual gain (+) or loss (—) of "life capital" in four years 1891-4 by fluctuations of mortality. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. 0— | 18,541 | 17,978 | + 563 | +27,621 |
| 5— | 1,363 | 1,255 | + 108 | + 5,286 |
| 10— | 613 | 552 | + 61 | + 2,748 |
| 15— | 814 | 783 | + 31 | + 1,264 |
| 20— | 1,074 | 1,000 | + 74 | + 2,716 |
| 25— | 2,937 | 2,743 | + 194 | + 6,022 |
| 35— | 3,748 | 3,816 | — 68 | — 1,645 |
| 45— | 4,204 | 4,334 | — 130 | — 2,359 |
| 55— | 4,154 | 4,337 | — 183 | — 2,370 |
| 65— | 3,999 | 4,133 | — 134 | — 1,191 |
| 75— | 2,232 | 2,234 | — 2 | — 13 |
| 85 and upwards | 457 | 443 | + 14 | + 38 |
| All ages | 44,136 | 43,608 | + 528 | +38,117 |
| Females. 0— | 16,241 | 15,650 | + 591 | +31,139 |
| 5— | 1,352 | 1,328 | + 24 | + 1,264 |
| 10— | 618 | 568 | + 50 | + 2,440 |
| 15— | 799 | 741 | + 58 | + 2,584 |
| 20— | 1,049 | 956 | + 93 | + 3,756 |
| 25— | 2,664 | 2,471 | + 193 | + 6,660 |
| 35— | 3,177 | 3,174 | + 3 | + 82 |
| 45— | 3,426 | 3,486 | — 60 | — 1,234 |
| 55— | 3,844 | 4,052 | — 208 | — 3,028 |
| 65— | 4,656 | 4,842 | — 186 | — 1,819 |
| 75— | 3,430 | 3,489 | — 59 | — 398 |
| 85 and upwards | 974 | 959 | + 15 | + 43 |
| All ages | 42,230 | 41,716 | + 514 | +41,489 |
| Total | 86,366 | 85,324 | + 1,042 | + 79,606 |
This table shows, therefore, that during the period 1891-4, as compared with the decennium
1881-90, there has been a mean annual saving of 1,042 lives, and that this represents 79,606 years of
"life capital" annually saved to the community. The actual gain to the community is therefore
greater than appears from the number of lives saved, and this is apparent when the great saving
of life at the earlier ages shown in the table is considered.