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

St Martin-in-the-Fields 1898

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Martin-in-the-Fields]

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Table: TABLE XLCopied from the Registrar-General1 s Annwil Summary of Births, Deaths, and Causes of Death in London for the year1898.DIMINUTION OR EXCESS OF DEATHS in 1898,Compared with the Average Annual Deaths in1888-97.

TABLE XL

Copied from the Registrar-General1 s Annwil Summary of Births, Deaths, and Causes of Death in London for the year1898.

DIMINUTION OR EXCESS OF DEATHS in 1898,

Compared with the Average Annual Deaths in1888-97.

CAUSE OF DEATH.Diminution in 1898.Excess in 1898.
Small-pox45-
Measles—306
Scarlet Fever438—
Typhus4—
Influenza—145
Whooping-cough361—
Diphtheria403—
Simple Fever16—
Enteric Fever37—
Diarrhœal siseases-1,408
Cancer-543
Phthisis and other Tubercular Diseases749—
Premature Birth—193
Diseases of Nervous System1,262-
Diseases of Circulatory System374—
Diseases of Respiratory System3,810—
Diseases of Urinary System—88
Childbirth and Puerperal Fever157—
Accident—135
Homicide—1
Suicide10—
All other causes—341
Balance of Diminution or Excess4,506-

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This Table shows in a summary form the number of lives saved
and the number lost in the year 1898, as compared with the
preceding decennium, under each of the more important headings in
the list of causes.
The net gain in life saved during 1898 is represented by 4,506
lives. In other words, had the average death-rate m 1888-97 continued
throughout the year under present notice, 4,506 lives would
have been sacrificed in addition to those which have been actually
lost by death. In the year 1898 there was, as compared with the
decennial average, an excess of 306 deaths from measles, 145 from
influenza, 1.408 from diarrhoeal diseases, 543 from cancer, 193 from
premature birth, 88 from urinary diseases, 135 from accident, and
1 from homicide. Under each of the other headings in the table
the mortality in 1898 was below the average. This was notably the
case in regard to scarlet fever, whooping-cough, diphtheria and
phthisis, and also in regard to diseases of the nervous and of the
respiratory system—the deaths referred to the last-mentioned group
of diseases being 3,810 below the animal average.