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62
During the first two of the periods there was practically no difference between
the infantile mortalities of Shoreditch and London; the general death rate, however,
was somewhat higher in Shoreditch but not greatly so. In connection with this,
it may be mentioned that the proportion of well-to-do people resident in Shoreditch
was markedly greater than at present, and the social and sanitary conditions in the
Borough more nearly approximated to the general average obtaining in the Metropolis.
From the second quinquennial period, however, the infantile mortality increased,
attaining a maximum during the five years ending 1899. It has since been decreasing.
On the other hand, the London infantile mortality decreased until the fourth
quinquennium and then increased, reaching a maximum during the same period as
Shoreditch, when it again began to decrease. It will be noticed that the general
death rates, both of Shoreditch and London, have steadily declined save for the
slight rise during the five years ending 1894, and the more marked rise during the
last of the five-year periods, both of which were, without doubt, the results of
Influenza epidemics. The rates for the last three years show still further decreases.
The decline in the general death rate for Shoreditch, and the same holds also for
London in a somewhat lesser degree, has been greater since it has synchronised with
the decline in the infantile mortality. Generally, the figures go to show that the rates
for Shoreditch have been subjected to influences common to the whole of the
Metropolis. They indicate a definite improvement in the public health during the
past fifty years, especially during the latter half of this period. The improvement,
however, is distinctly more manifest in the case of the Metropolis than for Shoreditch.
Whilst the general death rate of Shoreditch has decreased by about 18 per cent.,
that of London has fallen by 33 per cent., and if we take the infantile mortalities,
the decrease for Shoreditch has been only 13'5 per cent, as compared with 38 per
cent, for London. The decline in the infantile mortality for London, therefore, has
been almost three times as great as for Shoreditch.
Taking the three years ending 1922, the Shoreditch infantile mortality had
averaged 102 per 1,000 births, and the general death rate 15.4 per 1,000 population
as compared with 76 and 12.4 respectively for London as a whole, figures which show
that the infantile mortality for Shoreditch has averaged approximately 34 per cent,
higher than that of London, while the general death rate shows an excess of
21 per cent.
Again, if we compare the death rates from the infectious diseases—scarlet fever,
diphtheria, enteric fever, measles, whooping cough and diarrhoea—we find that
during the ten years ending 1922 the rate for Shoreditch has averaged twice
that of London as a whole, whilst the death rate from tuberculosis has been between
50 and 60 per cent, higher than that of the Metropolis.
From time to time in the past the question of the adequacy of the Sanitary
Staff has engaged the attention of the Shoreditch Sanitary Authority, and a brief
reference to the action taken will be helpful for the purpose of this Report.