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
West Ham 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Summary of General Statistics.
Area (acres) 4,706.
Population—
Census, 1921, 300,860.
Estimated, 1929, 307,600.
Number of inhabited houses (1921). 47,995.
Number of families or separate occupiers (1921), 68,569.
Unreduced Rateable Value—
General Rate, £1,671,605.
Sum represented by a Penny Rate—General District Rate, £6,965.
| BIRTHS. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Legitimate | Illegitimate | |
| Male | 2820 | 74 |
| Female | 2773 | 99 |
| 5593 | 173 | |
| Total | 5766 | |
DEATHS.
| Under 1 year | Under 2 years | Over 2years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 256 | 63 | 1755 |
| Female ... | 171 | 75 | 1606 |
| England and Wales | 107 Gt. Towns | West Ham | |
| Death Rate | 13.4 | 13.7 | 12.7 |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 74.0 | 79.0 | 74.0 |
| Maternal Mortality Rate | – | 4.3 | 2.6 |
| Birth Rate | 16.3 | 16.6 | 18.7 |
The illegitimate death rate under 1 year equals 132.9 as compared
with 74 for legitimate mortality.
Deaths from Measles (all ages) 22
Deaths from Whooping Cough (all ages) 114
Deaths from Diarrhoea (under two years of age) 57
Deaths under 5 years of age—all causes 712
Diphtheria.
The incidence of this disease is still very high, and has
again this year been the cause of many deaths and much sickness.
The Council have now granted facilities for any child to be inoculated
against diphtheria (see also page 85), and notices to this
effect are displayed in the Clinics. I he response of the parents
however, though greater than last year, is still far from encouraging.
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