London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barnes 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnes]

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6
Population.
The Registrar General's estimate of the population of Barnes
for mid-year 1937 is 41,100.
This is a decrease of 460 persons on his estimate of the population
for the previous year, and represents a decrease of 1,340 persons since
the date of the last Census six years ago, when the population of the
Borough was found to be 42,440 persons.
Although there has been during the six years since the 1931
Census a natural decrease from excess of deaths over births amounting
to 414 persons, there have been during that same period 804 newly
erected dwellings completed, and occupied, whilst less than 100
dwellings have been demolished.
The density of population is now 16.3 persons per acre,
considerably more than double the density in 1901 which was only
7.1 persons per acre.
Birth-rate.
The number of live births registered in the district during the
year was 278. After correction for inward and outward transfers
the "nett" number of births assignable to the district was 365,
corresponding to a birth-rate of 8.9 per 1,000 of the population.
The birth-rate for the year for England and Wales was 14.9 and for
London 13.3.
The birth-rate for the area has been declining since 1921; from
that year until 1930 there was a steady decline, but from 1930 to the
present time the fall has been much more marked. The lowest
ever recorded for the area was in 1936 when the rate was a low as
8"4 per 1,000 of the population.
Death-rate.
The number of deaths registered in the district during the year
1937 was 252. Of these 25 were deaths of presons who were not
"residents" of the Borough, and 227 were deaths of "residents."
To obtain the correct number of deaths representing the true mortality
amongst the population it is necessary to add 242 deaths of "residents"
whose deaths occurred outside the Borough.
The corrected number of deaths therefore belonging to this district
is 469. This number represents a death-rate of 11.4 per 1,000 of
the population. The death rate for the year for England and Wales
was 12 4, and that for London 12.3.
The death-rate of 11.4 for the year 1937 is slightly lower than the
death-rate for 1936. The death-rates for both these years are higher
than the average for the previous five years, this average being 10 5 per
1,000 of population. The increase in the higher death-rates during