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

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Hackney 1879

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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the percentage to total deaths was below the average for 1S66.75,
but higher than for the 10 years 1856.65, the figures being 23.4,
24.3, and 21.0. The reduction in the mortality of children under
one year arose chiefly from the unusually small number of deaths
from summer diarrhcea, as there were only 53 deaths registered
from this cause under one year of age, against 122 in 1868. The
number of deaths from the whooping cough, although above the
mean of ten years, was much below that for 1878, viz., 37,
against 57. As before stated, the diminished number of deaths
from summer diarrhoea is attributable to the low summer temperature
; but even after allowing for this, the small excess of
death.rate at 0.1 years above that for 1855.65 is very satisfactory,
when the great increase in the density of our population,
and the different class of the bulk of our present inhabitants, are
taken into consideration. At the next age period, 1 .5 years, the
percentage to deaths at all ages more closely approximates to that
for 1856.65, having been 16.1, against 16.4; whilst for 5.15 it
was much below the means, having been only 4.2, against 5.3 in
1866.75, and 5.1 in 1856.65. The same remark applies to the
age periods of 15.25 and 25.35. At the next age periods, of
35.45, 45.55, and 55.65, the mortality was, as might have been
expected,in excess of the means for the two preceding decennials,
chiefly in consequence of the unusually large number of deaths
from inflammatory diseases of the lungs at those age periods.
At 65.75 the proportion of deaths was larger than in 1866.75,
but smaller than in 1856.65, and was smaller for the ages above
75 than in former years, most probably because we have not now
so large a proportion of elderly people in our population as we
had at the time of the passing of the Metropolis Local Management
Act. There were 153 inhabitants who died at 80 years or
above, being 3 less than in 1878, but there was only one death
above 95, whilst in 1878 as many as 5 were registered as being
of a more advanced age than 95. There were 22 between 80 and
81; 13 between 81 and 82; 20 between 82 and 83 ; 18 between
83 and 84; 1 between 84 and 85; 14 between 85 and 86; 11