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
Walthamstow 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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8
Of the adults, 3 have well marked Parkinsonian symptoms and
are unable to work, and the remainder, while suffering from slight
to severe after.effects, have resumed their usual employment
The following are the birth, death, and infantile mortality rates for this and similar districts in the outer zone of London during 1924, as taken from the four quarterly Returns of the Registrar. General:.
| Town | Population | Birthrate | Deathrate | Infantile mortality rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croydon | 193,400 | 18.3 | 11.6 | 54.8 |
| Willesden | 168,700 | 15.7 | 10.2 | 75.6 |
| Hornsey | 87,430 | 12.0 | 10.4 | 48.9 |
| Tottenham | 151,700 | 16.0 | 10.2 | 73.7 |
| Edmonton | 69,590 | 26.6 | 9.9 | 40.4 |
| West Ham | 314,400 | 25.4 | 11.5 | 69.2 |
| East Ham | 146,200 | 15.8 | 9.6 | 65.0 |
| Leyton | 132,800 | 130 | 10.0 | 65.4 |
| Ilford | 89,020 | 15.5 | 9.6 | 44.2 |
Corrections have been made at the end of the year at Somerset
House for all these Districts but as these are not within my knowledge,
by retaining the above figures, the relative positions will not
be much altered
The true infantile mortality rate for Walthamstow is 64.1 and
probably those for the other Areas are also lower than shown
Six of the 10 Large Towns have a smaller birth.rate, 5 have a
greater death.rate and only 3 have a higher infantile mortality rate
Ilford and Hornsey occupy yearly enviable positions in these
tables and this may be accounted for by the character of their
populations and their low birth.rates; but there is no such explanation
for Edmonton Here is a poor Area with the highest birthrate,
the lowest infantile mortality rate; and a general death.
rate equal to the best
One does not expect very favourable rates at West Ham from
the character of its population and its location, but Tottenham and
Willesden, districts with advantages, natural and economic, two of
the best administered Areas with Public Health Services second to
none in the Country, apparently have no better results than those
of Walthamstow
By such a comparison our District's record is good but Edmonton
shows that a considerable improvement is possible
The following table shows our relative position compared with
the Country and the Great and Smaller Towns as regards general
death and infant mortality rates and those from the principal
infectious diseases:-