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 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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TABLE No. 60.
INFANT WEIGHTS (in lbs.).
| Age in weeks.- | The Borough. | Woolwich. | West Plu instead. | East Plumstead. | Elthum. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8.49 | 8.39 | 8.62 | 8.44 | 8.54 |
| 8 | 9.93 | 10.04 | 1006 | 9.79 | 9.85 |
| 13 | 11.61 | 11.79 | 11.50 | 11.55 | 11.58 |
| 18 | 13.30 | 13.38 | 13.23 | 13.41 | 13.18 |
| 23 | 14.57 | 14.71 | 14.46 | 14.94 | 14.17 |
| 28 | 15.81 | 16.01 | 15.68 | 16.05 | 15.51 |
| 33 | 16.90 | 17.09 | 17.00 | 17.00 | 16.59 |
| 38 | 17.97 | 17.86 | 18.15 | 18.15 | 17.77 |
| 43 | 18.98 | 19.08 | 18.86 | 18.90 | 19.05 |
| 49 | 19.79 | 19.92 | 19.72 | 19.92 | 19.61 |
The following two tables No. 61 and No. 62 give the age
in weeks, the number of observations (weighings) made at
each week, the mean weight in lbs., the standard deviation
and the co-efficient of variation for each set of observations.
The standard deviation is a statistical method of expressing
how closely the weights of different babies at the same age
approximate to each other and the co-efficient of variation
is one hundred times the standard deviation divided by the
mean weight.
In reading these mean (average) weights, the co-efficient
of variation will enable one to express the extent of variation
which can occur at any given age, e.g., at 25 weeks it can be
said that 68.27 per cent. of all Woolwich male babies will be
within the following limits of weight:—15.72 lbs. plus 12.7
per cent. and 15.721bs., minus 12.7 per cent.