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
Dagenham 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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The following figures give the estimated or census population, the number of houses as ascertained from the rate books and the number of persons per house:—
| Population. | No. of houses. | No. of persons per house. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 Census | 89,362 | 19,457 | 4.59 |
| 1931 Estimated | 90,870 | 19,457 | 4.67 |
| 1932 | 94,952 | 19,952 | 4.71 |
| 1933 | 95,550 | 20,754 | 4.60 |
| 1934 | 98,710 | 21,918 | 4.50 |
| 1935 | 100,300 | 22,800 | 4.40 |
| 1936 | 102,000 | 23,994 | 4.25 |
| 1937 | 105,500 | 25,920 | 4.07 |
It will be seen that the number of occupiers per
house continues to fall, and has steadily done so since
the year 1932. This is an indication that the standard
of housing as regards overcrowding is improving;
formerly it was common to find married sons and
daughters living with their parents. The tendency
now is for each married couple to live in a separate
house which is a practice to be encouraged.
Births.
1,973 live births were registered during the year,
there being 1,009 males and 964 females. This is in a
ratio of 1,047 males to 1,000 females, approximating
very closely to the ratio for the country, which is usually
in the neighbourhood of 1,050 males to 1,000 females.
The birth rate per 1,000 population was thus 18.7 compared
with 14.9 for England and Wales and the same
figure for the 125 large towns including London. The
rate compares with that of 24.2, 26.5, 30.6, 23.8, 23.6,
20.4, 18.6, 19.6, 18.59 and 18.47 for the years 1927 to
1936 inclusive.
It appears that the birth rate is now maintaining a
figure of between 18 and 19 per thousand, It is not