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
Woolwich 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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15
The Eltham birth rate has steadily increased since 1900.
The reduction of the birth rate in this and other countries
has been going on for several years. The birth rate varies to
a certain extent with the marriage rate, which itself depends
upon the prosperity of the country, but there has been clear
evidence of the steady decline during the past twenty years,
and this decline has given rise to much concern and discussion
on the part of social scientists.
So long however, as is the case in Woolwich, the death rate
also continues to decline, there need be no anxiety as to the
maintenance of the population, but probably in a few years'
time it will be a serious question whether some means should
not be taken to encourage both the birth and successful rearing
of children.
6. The following table gives for each parish the birth rate in the two Quinq.uennia 1891-1895 and 1896-1900, and each of the four past years:—
| Average of years '91 to' 95 | Average of years '96 to '00 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woolwich | 31.1 | 30.1 | 28.5 | 28.8 | 29.1 | 28.2 |
| Plumstead | 33.3 | 31.0 | 31.5 | 31.5 | 31.4 | 28.5 |
| Eltham | 22.8 | 20.6 | 22.3 | 23.8 | 24.1 | 4.9 |
7. Illegitimate Births.—60 of the births registered were
illegitimate, which is equal to a rate of 17 per thousand total
births, compared with 13 in 1904. The illegitimate birth rate
in England and Wales was 39 in 1902. The lowest rate in any
County in that year was 26 in Essex, the rate in Middlesex
was 28.