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

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Leyton 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]

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3
TO THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS OF
THE BOROUGH OF LEYTON.
Me. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present herewith my Annual Report on
the health, sanitary circumstances and vital statistics of the
Borough of Leyton during the year 1948.
VITAL STATISTICS.
Population. The last official census—that of the year
1931—showed the population of the Borough of Leyton to be
128,313 persons. The Registrar-General's estimate of the present
population of the Borough is 106,100 persons, showing a gradual
but progressive increase during the post-war years from 101,910 in
1946 to 106,100 in 1948. Disregarding the abnormal figures of the
two world-war periods, the present population of Leyton now
approximates to what it was some 43 years ago. Prom the year
1905, when it was 105,000, the population gradually increased
until it reached its maximum figure (133,500) in 1924, since when
there has been a gradual fall to the present-day figure of 106,100.

From the following figures of the last five years, of First two were war years, it appears that the sudden Increase in births reached its maximum in 1947.

Year.Births.Birth Rate.
19441,61318.87
19451,47416.87
19462,22321.81
19472,35922.35
19481,81017.06

Deaths. Deaths of Leyton residents certified during the
year numbered 1,118, giving a death rate of 10.53 per thousand
of the population; and this is the lowest general death rate recorded
since 1938. With the progressive increase in the expectation of life
which has been taking place during this and the last generation,
coupled with the great fall in the birth rate during the same period
there has occurred a fundamental change in the age constitution
of the population. The proportion of old people in the population
has been increasing progressively at the expense of the young; and
it redounds to the credit of the health and social services that there