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6. As for unhealthiness, it may be supposed, that although seasoned bodies may,
and do live near as long in London, as elsewhere, yet new-comers and children do not :
for the smoaks, stinks, and close air, are less healthful than that of the country. Otherwise
why do sickly persons remove into the country-air? And why are there more old men
in countries than in London per rata? And although the difference in Hackney and
Newington above mentioned be not very notorious, yet the reason may be their
vicinity to London, and that the inhabitants are most such, whose bodies have first
been impaired with the London-air before they withdraw thither.
7. As to the causes of barrenness in London, I say, that although there should be
none extraordinary in the native air of the place, yet the intemperence in feeding, and
especially the adulteries and fornications, supposed more frequent in London than
elsewhere, do certainly hinder breeding. For a woman, admitting ten men, in so far
from having ten times as many children, that she hath none at all
Morris, too, writing of the mid-18th century primarily in connection with the
excess of burials over christenings and the effect of migration on the growth and present
state of the metropolis relates of' the discouragement to matrimony in London
the unmarried ladies and gentlemen in this city, of moderate fortunes, which are the great
bulk, are unable to support the expense of a family with any magnificence; and cannot
intermarry together, without retiring from high life, and submitting to relinquish those
pleasures of the town, to which their appetites have long been raised; and therefore
acquiesce in celibacy; each sex compensating itself, as it can, by other diversions.
Persons also of inferior situation in London, have their taste for pleasures inflamed and
avoid, with caution, the marriage state with their equals. And as to the vast body of
common manufacturers, labourers, and porters, the expences in London of house-rent,
including taxes, together with the high rate of milk, roots, and other provisions proper
for children, are such that, undoubtedly such persons enter at the same time into
matrimony, and poverty and distress. Hence therefore a great checque to the births in
London, and a vast body of people furnishing to the amount of the burials and not at
all to the christenings'. The reason for the excess of burials over christenings which
Morris thought the most important was to be 'attributed to the enormous use of
spirituous hquors'.
Summary
The picture presented in this historical review of mortality is the familiar one seen in
the history of public health throughout the world. The appalling wastage of life in
infancy and from the ravages of infectious disease during the 17th and 18th centuries
was a condition that showed no real improvement until a precise medical assessment
was possible. Although this was appreciated by enlightened thinkers, such as Morris,
the quantitative facts about diseases did not become known until the Registrar General
issued reports. By 1857 the statistics began to pay dividends by helping to stir the nation
into taking further legislative action for sanitary reform.
One cannot fail to be impressed by the sense of familiarity with some of the demographic
aspects of London which have been revealed by a study of its history. Six such
aspects which have recurred during the period of over 350 years are :
(i) The contiruity of data, perfect and imperfect, about the health of the metropolis
—from Weekly Bills to weekly tables of the General Register Office.
(ii) The attractions of the metropolis which lead to persistent migration thereto of
persons born elsewhere.
(iii) The relatively low reproductive rate of the London population.
(iv) The polluted atmosphere.
(v) Changes of fashion in assigning causes of death.
(vi) Inaccurate and/or late statistical returns.
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