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
Whitechapel 1898
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel]
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10
An infant aged two minutes, attended by a Midwife, was the only uncertified
death in the District during the year. The case occurred in the Goodman's
Fields Sub-Registration District, and was referred to the Coroner, but he did
not consider an inquest necessary.
VIOLENT DEATHS.
Total number of Deaths, 67 Males 40
Females 27
Sub-Registration Districts Distribution.
| Spitalfields Sub-District | 30 |
| Mile End New Town ,, | 12 |
| Whitechapel Church ,, | 15 |
| Goodman's Fields „ | 10 |
VIOLENT DEATHS
| Total number of Deaths, 67 | 67 | Males | 30 |
| Females | 27 | ||
| Age Distribution of Violent Deaths. | Sub-Registration Districts Distribution | ||
| Under the age of 1 year | 16 | Spitalfields Sub-District | 30 |
| Between the ages of 1 and 5 | 11 | Mile End New Town | 12 |
| " | 5 „ 20 7 | whitechaple church | 12 |
| " | 20 „ 40 16 | Goodman's fields | 10 |
| " | 40 „ 60 10 | ||
| " | 60 „ 80 4 | ||
| " | Over the age of 80 years3 | ||
Deaths from Violence weke Registered as follows
| Accidents—Run Over, Fractures, &c. | 29 |
| Burns and Scalds | 18 |
| Accidental Suffocation in Bed, Drowning, &c. | 16 |
| Suicide and Homicide | 4 |
| 67 |
PUBLIC MORTUARY STATISTICS.
During the year 1898 a total of 211 bodies (133 males and 78 females)
were deposited in the Public Mortuary, either for inquest purposes or for the
purpose of awaiting burial. For the latter purpose the institution received
18 bodies, There were 47 post-mortem examinations. Shrouds had to be
provided to the number of 53. The fees paid by the Coroner on behalf of
the London County Council for the use of the Court amounted to the sum of
£30 2s. The London County Council have agreed to pay an annual sum
of £75 in lieu of the fee per inquest system, and as this arrangement commenced
last summer, an adjustment will be made to give effect to it. Of the
total admissions, 79 were infants under the age of 1; 26 were between the
ages of 1 and 5; 7 were between the ages of 5 and 20; 27 were between the
ages of 20 and 40; 42 were between the ages of 40 and 60; 26 were between
the ages of 60 and 80; and 4 were over 80 years of age.
The deaths of the above were attributable to the following causes:—
| Zymotic diseases | 8 |
| Constitutional diseases | 31 |
| Diseases of the Heart | 44 |
| Respiratory diseases, | 21 |
| Diseases of the Nervous System | 60 |
| Violence—Accident | 38 |
| Other Causes | 9 |
| Total | 211 |