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annual report
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
OF THE
BOROUGH OF HAMMERSMITH
For the Year 1917.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith.
Gentlemen,—In the absence of Dr. Howell,
who is serving in the Army, I beg to submit the
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the
year 1917, which, in accordance with the suggestion
of the Local Government Board, is limited to a record
of the most important facts and figures.
Population.—The following estimates of population
have been adopted by the Registrar General for the
calculation of the Death and Birth Rates of the
Borough.
For the Death Rate (estimated civilian population) 114,952
For the Birth Rate (estimated total population) 128,139
Looking at the crowded state of the borough it is
probable that both are under estimated.
Marriages.—1,121 marriages were registered during
the year against 1,192 in 1916, and the marriage rate, i.e.,
the number of persons married per 1,000 inhabitants,
was 17.5.
Births.—Including 187 children born of Hammersmith
mothers in lying-in institutions situated in other
boroughs 2,278 births were registered, representing a
birth rate of 177 per 1,000, being the lowest recorded
in Hammersmith and 2.6 below that of 1916.
Illegitimacy.—The illegitimates numbered 180 or 8
per cent. of the total births, the highest proportion
recorded.