London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1921

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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13
BIRTHS.
During the year 1921, 336 births were registered in the City, 242 of which
however, did not belong thereto. To the remaining 94 must be added the births
of 35 children born to citizens temporarily residing outside the City boundary.
The number of births, therefore, on which the rate should be calculated is 129.
The annual birth rate was 9.4 per 1,000 persons of all ages, compared with a
quinquennial mean rate of 11.9 per 1,000. In the Metropolis the birth rate in 1921
was 22.3 per 1,000.
MORTALITY.
During the year under review, 785 deaths were registered in the District,
including 705 persons dying in the City, but not belonging thereto. See Table,
p. 11. for details. Deducting these latter, 80 deaths remain, to which must be
added those of 78 persons who died in Institutions in outside districts, where they
were registered ; the total, therefore, on which the City death rate is calculated is
158. The death rate for 1921 was 11.5 per 1,000 per annum of the population (the
previous year being 15.6), whilst that for the whole of the Metropolis was 12.4.
DEATHS FROM VIOLENCE.—Of the City deaths, 5.7 per cent, were caused
by injuries or violence, as compared with 10.4 in 1919 and 7.8 in 1920. This is 2.0
below the average for the previous five years.

PERCENTAGE OF REGISTERED DEATHS FROM VIOLENCE

Year.City of London.Metropolis.
Per cent.Per cent.
19169.94.0
19176.25.9
19184.25.6
191910.45.7
19207.84.7
Average previous five years7.75.2
19215.74.2

DEATH RATES, PER 1,000 PER ANNUM.

Year.City of London.96 Great Towns of England and Wales.Metropolis.
191615.014.414.3
191715.614.615.0
191820.918.218.9
191914.413.813.4
192015.612.512.6
Average previous five years16.314.714.8
192111.512.312.4

The death rate from zymotic disease per 1,000 of the population was 022
compared with 014 in the Metropolis.
The deaths from Phthisis correspond to a rate of 0 95 per 1,000 of the population,
as compared with 105 in the Metropolis.
INFANT MORTALITY.
The deaths of children under one year of age were at the rate of 93 per 1,000
births, as against 80 for the whole of London.
The table of infantile mortality on p. 14 shows the deaths of children under
one year arranged according to monthly age periods. From this it will be seen that
no less than 66.6 per cent, of these deaths occurred in the first month, 75 per cent,
within the first three months, and 91.6 per cent, during the first six months of
existence.
The usual preventive measures have continued in force, and include the holding
of a Mothers' Meeting weekly at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where the weighing of
children is undertaken and advice given to parents. In the case of illness assistance
in obtaining medical advice is offered, and milk is distributed in necessitous cases
c