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 1895
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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11
population did not include persons resident in poor law institutions belonging to the district but
situated beyond its limits. If such persons were included in the population, the "factors for correction "
would in a few instances be slightly modified.
| Age period. | Males. | Females. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean death rate 1881-90. | Mean death rate 1891-95. | Difference per cent. | Mean death rate 1881-90. | Mean death rate 1891-95. | Difference per cent. | |
| 0— | 73.09 | 71.23 | — 2.5 | 63.26 | 61.30 | — 31 |
| 5— | 5.93 | 5.26 | — 11.3 | 5.82 | 5.54 | — 4.8 |
| 10— | 2.92 | 2.61 | — 10.6 | 2.89 | 2.64 | — 8.7 |
| 15— | 4.05 | 3.79 | — 6.4 | 3.58 | 3.25 | — 9.2 |
| 20— | 5.44 | 4.98 | — 8.5 | 4.40 | 3.96 | — 10.0 |
| 25— | 8.65 | 7.98 | — 7.7 | 6.82 | 6.23 | — 8.7 |
| 35— | 14.96 | 14.87 | — 0.6 | 11.42 | 11.26 | — 1.4 |
| 45— | 23.87 | 24.32 | + 1.9 | 17.23 | 17.46 | + 1.3 |
| 55— | 41.33 | 42.88 | + 3.8 | 30.77 | 32.37 | + 5.2 |
| 65— | 77.97 | 79.81 | + 2.4 | 63.28 | 65.57 | +3.6 |
| 75— | 155.93 | 156.82 | +0.6 | 134.28 | 138.82 | + 3.4 |
| 85 and upwards | 297.63 | 288.42 | — 31 | 264.77 | 264.90 | + 0.0 |
| All ages | 22.10 | 21.42 | — 3.1 | 18.83 | 18.45 | — 2.0 |
An examination of the table shows that the decrease in the death rate at "all ages" is almost
wholly due to a decrease in the death rates of males and females aged 0-45, seeing that the death
rates of males and females aged 45 and upwards, with the single exception of males aged 85 and
upwards, have actually increased.
A comparison of the figures in the columns headed " difference per cent." shows that, speaking
generally, the increases in the death rates at ages 45 and upwards have been more marked in the case
of females than in the case of males, and while this is also true of the decreases in the death rates shown
at ages 0-, 15-, 20-, 25- and 35-, it will be seen that the decrease in the death rate of males at age
groups 5- and 10- has been greater than the decrease in the female death rate at the same age groups.
This difference in the percentage difference is especially marked in the case of the age group 5-.
The marked difference referred to at this age period is largely accounted for when the prevalence
of diphtheria in recent years is considered. It will be seen from the table relating to diphtheria
(page 33), and from similar tables published in previous reports, that the incidence of diphtheria
mortality on females aged 5- is much greater than the incidence on males at this age period, and it
follows, therefore, that any increase in the total mortality from this disease must, cœteris paribus,
operate prejudicially upon the " all causes " death rate of females at this age period in comparison with
that of males.
The following figures show the decrease in the death rate from "all causes, less diphtheria " in the period 1891-5, compared with 1881-90, for each sex at the age period 5
| Males at age period 5-. | Females at age period 5-. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean death rate from all causes, less ciphtheria. | Decrease per cent. | Mean death rate from all causes, less diphtheria. | Decrease per cent. | ||
| 1881-90. | 1891-5. | 1881-90. | 1891-5. | ||
| 5.39 | 4.20 | — 22.1 | 5.13 | 4.13 | — 19.5 |
In my last annual report it was shown that a more accurate estimate of the effect on the community
of fluctuations of mortality could be obtained by the use of a " life table," and the following
figures, calculated from the Ex and Qx columns of the life table for London, 1881-90, were
utilised for this purpose—
| 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 |