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10
With regard to entrants, it is of interest to trace their place of origin. The following table
shows the percentage of the London population according to birthplace for the years 1861,
1891 and 1931, i.e., at the beginning, middle and end of the period considered.

As would be expected from the slowing down of the inward movement, the percentage of
London-born shows a steady increase over the period. Of those born elsewhere in England the
majority, as one would expect, come from the surrounding home counties. Records for the
census of 1931 are not available, but according to the census of 1911 the percentages of the
London population born in the home counties were Essex (2.3), Kent (2.2), Middlesex (1.9)
and Surrey (1.5), the counties next in order being Hampshire (1.2), Sussex (1.1), Devon (1.0),
Suffolk (10), Norfolk (0.9), Lancashire (0.8) and Yorkshire (0.7). It is seen from the above
table that while the percentage of Scotsmen has apparently remained about the same, that of
the Irish has decreased by about one-half since 1861. Immigrants from Wales, on the other
hand, have increased, especially since the Great War. Again, the percentage of foreigners has
doubled during the period considered.
Infectious Diseases
The notifications, attack-rates and death-rates of the principal infectious diseases
in London in 1936 and earlier years are shown in tables 30 to 33, and for the
constituent metropolitan boroughs in 1936 in table 28.
Smallpox.
No case of smallpox was notified during the year. London has now been free
from this disease since June. 1934.
Typhoid
fever.
During the nine weeks ended 24th October, 1936, 154 cases of typhoid fever
were notified in London. Of these 13 occurred among a party of girl guides from
the Rotherhithe district who stayed at a holiday resort on the Sussex coast during
the period 23rd July to 8th August. Two further cases were notified later. All the
15 patients were treated in the Council's hospitals and 3 died. The source of infection
was not definitely traced. Thirty-four of the 154 cases referred to above were
infected during an outbreak of the disease in the Bournemouth area, and two proved
fatal. The infection was attributed to an unpasteurised milk supply.
Cerebrospinal
(spotted)
fever.
During the year 113 notifications of cerebro-spinal fever were received, but in 14
of these the diagnosis was not confirmed. Of the 99 actual cases, 52 proved fatal.
In addition, 24 deaths were recorded by the Registrar-General of cases which had
not been notified, making a total of 76 deaths.
Encephalitis
lethargica
The notifications of encephalitis lethargica numbered 12. One case was not
confirmed. Of the 11 actual cases, 4 proved fatal. In addition 49 deaths were recorded
by the Registrar-General of cases which had not been notified, and one which
had been notified in a previous year, making a total of 54 deaths for the year.
Poliomyelitis
and polioencephalitis.
Notifications of poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis numbered 38 ; the diagnosis
was not confirmed in one of these. Of the 37 cases, 2 proved fatal. In addition,
5 deaths were recorded by the Registrar-General of cases which had not been notified,
and of one which was notified in a previous year, making a total of 8 deaths
for the year.