Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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10
In previous annual reports it has been 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 utilized
for this purpose-
Age groups. | Males. | Females. | Age groups. | Males. | Females. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tears. | Years. | Years. | Years. | ||
0- | 49.06 | 52.69 | 35- | 24.19 | 27.24 |
5- | 48.94 | 52.68 | 45- | 1815 | 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 1891-7 with the deaths which
would have occurred at these age-periods if the death rates of 1881-90 had still been maintained, the
difference 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 showing in the following table-
groups. | Deaths calculated according to mean rates 1881-90. | Mean deaths occurring in the seven years 1891-7. | Mean annual gain (+) or loss (-) of lives in the seven years 1891-7 by fluctuations of mortality. | Mean annual gain (+) or loss (-) of "life capital" in the seven years 1891-7 by fluctuations of mortality. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Males. | Years. | |||
0- | 18,783 | 18,110 | + 673 | +33,017 |
5- | 1,381 | 1,203 | + 178 | + 8,711 |
10- | 621 | 545 | + 76 | + 3,424 |
15- | 824 | 747 | + 77 | + 3,141 |
20- | 1,089 | 977 | + 112 | + 4,110 |
25- | 2,975 | 2,647 | + 328 | + 10,181 |
35- | 3,797 | 3,678 | + 119 | + 2,879 |
45- | 4,259 | 4,206 | + 53 | + 962 |
55- | 4,208 | 4,238 | - 30 | - 388 |
65- | 4,051 | 3,964 | + 87 | + 773 |
75- | 2,261 | 2,231 | + 30 | + 190 |
85 and upwards | 463 | 429 | + 34 | + 93 |
All ages | 44,712 | 42,975 | + 1,737 | +67,093 |
Females. | Years. | |||
0- | 16,453 | 15,748 | + 705 | +37,146 |
5- | 1,369 | 1,263 | + 106 | + 5,584 |
10- | 626 | 553 | + 73 | + 3,562 |
15- | 810 | 703 | + 107 | + 4,767 |
20- | 1,063 | 898 | + 165 | + 6,664 |
25- | 2,698 | 2,361 | + 337 | +11,640 |
35- | 3,219 | 3,101 | + 118 | + 3,214 |
45- | 3,471 | 3,406 | + 65 | + 1,337 |
55- | 3,894 | 3,902 | - 8 | - 116 |
65- | 4,717 | 4,579 | + 138 | + 1,350 |
75- | 3,474 | 3,450 | + 24 | + 162 |
85 and upwards | 987 | 967 | + 20 | + 57 |
All ages | 42,781 | 40,931 | +1,850 | +75,367 |
Total | 87,493 | 83,906 | + 3,587 | + 142,460 |