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 1903
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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10
London mortality in 1903 compared with the mortality in the decennium 1891-1900.
The following table shows the mean death-rates obtaining in London at the several age
periods, and for each sex in the ten years 1891-1900, and in the year 1903. The figures for the
year 1903 are fully corrected for institution deaths (see footnote ('), page 7), and the rates for
the period 1891-1900 are based upon figures which have been corrected for institution deaths on the
basis of the experience of the four years 1897-1900; a fuller discussion of this point will be
found in the London Life Table appended to my report for the year 1901—-
| Age-period. | Males. | Females. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean death-rate 1891-1900. | Uean death-rate 1903. | Difference per cent. | Mean death-rate 1891-1900. | Mean death-rate 1903. | Diffeience per cent. | |
| 0— | 71.97 | 54.12 | —24.8 | 61.99 | 46.44 | —25.1 |
| 5— | 4.97 | 3.02 | —39.2 | 5.17 | 3.17 | —38.7 |
| 10— | 2.46 | 1.92 | —22-0 | 2.48 | 1.84 | —25.8 |
| 15— | 3.47 | 2.74 | —21.0 | 2.94 | 2.42 | —17.7 |
| 20— | 4.59 | 3.51 | —23.5 | 3.46 | 2.66 | —23.1 |
| 25— | 7.36 | 5.81 | —21.1 | 5.65 | 4.32 | —23.5 |
| 35— | 14.22 | 11.25 | —20.9 | 10.68 | 8.66 | —18.9 |
| 45— | 23.14 | 19.83 | —14.3 | 17.12 | 14.24 | —16.8 |
| 55— | 40.68 | 34.73 | —14.6 | 31.01 | 24.28 | —21.7 |
| 65— | 77.78 | 67.02 | —13.8 | 63.44 | 52.18 | —17.7 |
| 75— | 154.13 | 127.57 | —17.2 | 134.56 | 111.08 | —17.4 |
| 85 and upwards | 284.10 | 269.19 | — 5.2 | 265.77 | 236.48 | —11.0 |
| All ages | 20.88 | 16.55 | —20.7 | 17.88 | 13.91 | —22.2 |
It will be seen from this table that the rate of mortality in 1903 was considerably lower
than that of the period 1891-1900 at each age-period of life and for each sex.
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," the
method adopted being similar to that employed by Dr. Tatham in a report on the health of
greater Manchester for the period 1891-3. The advantages of this method and the formulae used
are set out in some detail in the London life table appended to the annual report for 1901.. It
will be seen from the description therein contained that in order to apply this method of comparison
it is necessary in the first place to ascertain from the life table the mean future life time
of males and females in groups of ages corresponding to those age-groups to which the deaths
relate. The following table shows the results thus obtained from the London life table, 18911900—
1891-1900.
| Age-groups. | Males. | Females. | Age-groups. | Males. | Females. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years. | Years. | Years. | Years. | ||
| 0— | 50.16 | 53.66 | 35— | 23.98 | 26.89 |
| 5— | 49.89 | 53.48 | 45— | 17.75 | 20.04 |
| 10— | 45.61 | 49.30 | 55— | 12.35 | 13.93 |
| 15— | 41.26 | 44.94 | 65— | 7.98 | 8.90 |
| 20— | 37.05 | 40.62 | 75— | 4-91 | .37 |
| 25— | 31.05 | 34.39 | 85 and upwards | 3.02 | 3.19 |
In the following table the number of deaths occurring in the year 1903, at each age-period
and for each sex, is compared with the number of deaths which would have occurred had the
death-rates of the period 1891-1900 been maintained in the year 1903. The number of lives
gained in the latter period is also shown, and the figures in the la3t column of the table express
this gain in terms of " life capital," these being obtained by applying the mean future lifetime
figures given in Table I. to the number of lives gained at each age-group.