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 Giles (Camberwell) 1866

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell]

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Table: increase has been invariable, as the following table framed for the last 6 years will shew:—

increase has been invariable, as the following table framed for the last 6 years will shew:—

No. of Weeks.Births.Deaths.New Houses erected.
18615223911419202
18625224881553374
18635326881731535
18645229821843528
18655230361907775
186652332120501509
Total in 6 years16,90610,5033923

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The progressive increase of the annual mortality might be
supposed, and has been assumed, to shew progressive deterioration
of the health of the Parish; and no doubt if, while the mortality
had thus increased, the number of the population had remained
stationary, the correctness of this inference could not be
disputed. It is clear however from the above table, that the
progressive increase in the annual number of deaths has proceeded
pari passu with a similar increase in the annual number of
births, and with yearly additions to the number of houses, and
inferentially therefore with a progressive annual increase of the
population. But since, under similar conditions of healthiness,
the number of deaths occurring within a given time will depend
upon the number of the population among which they occur (in
other words, the larger the population the larger will be the