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 1901

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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17
The following table shows that the London death rate from the first six of these principal
epidemic diseases, viz., smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, whooping cough and fever
was, in 1891-1900, higher than that of any of these towns except St. Petersburg, and in 1901 was
higher than that of any except St. Petersburg and New York.

Table: Six principal epidemic diseases—Death rates per 1,000 living.

Six principal epidemic diseases—Death rates per 1,000 living.

Towns.1891-1900.1901.Towns.1891-1900.1901.
London1.9321382St. Petersburg3.353.14
Paris10.70.94Berlin1.301.12
Brussels0.970.60Vienna1.540.92
Amsterdam0.870.58Rome1.250.78
Copenhagen1.281.26New York1.661.45
Stockholm1.730.98

Table: The death rates from the principal epidemic diseases in the several metropolitan boroughs in 1901 are shown in the following table—

The death rates from the principal epidemic diseases in the several metropolitan boroughs in 1901 are shown in the following table—

Metropolitan borough.Deaths in 1901.Death rate per 1,000 living.Metropolitan borough.Deaths in 1901.Death rate per 1,000 living.
Paddington2491.73Shoreditch3542.99
Kensington3211.83Bethnal-green3722.88
Hammersmith3232.86Stepney7612.54
Fulham3892.81Poplar5143.04
Chelsea971.31Southwark6203.02
Westminster, City of2451.34Bermondsey3772.90
St. Marylebone2191.65Lambeth6492.15
Hampstead811.02Battersea4652.76
St. Pancras5632.39Wandsworth3621.55
Islingtou6621.97Camberwell6312.44
Stoke Newington651.28Deptford2742.48
Hackney4712.15Greenwich2092.17
Holborn1352.28Lewisham2111.65
Finsbury2792.78Woolwich1781.51
London, City of281.06London10,1072.221

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The eastern group of districts had the highest mortality from the principal epidemic
diseases in 1901, viz., 2.82 per 1,000 living, and the northern groups the lowest (1.95). Among
the metropolitan boroughs, Poplar had the highest death rate (3.04) and Hampstead the lowest
(1.02).
Smallpox and Vaccination.
The deaths from smallpox in the administrative county of London numbered 229 in 1901,
and 4 deaths were attributed to cownox and effects of vaccination.

Table: The death rates from smallpox in successive periods have been as follows—

The death rates from smallpox in successive periods have been as follows—

Period.Smallpox death rate per 1,000 living.Period.Smallpox death rate per 1,000 living.
1851-600.2818950.0121
1861-700.2818960.0021
1871-800.4618970.0041
1881-900.141898o.ooo1
1891—1899o.oo11
18920.00711900o.oo11
18930.040119010.0511
18940.0201

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In this table where — is inserted no deaths occurred.
1 See footnote (1), page 9. * See footnote 2'), page 9.
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