Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Rotherhithe]
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APPENDIX No. 1.
ANNUAL REPORT
presented by the
Medical Officer of Health
From January 1st to December 31st, 1884.
To the VESTRY of ROTHERHITHE.
Gentlemen,
Upon receiving the honour of election as Medical Officer of Health for
your Parish, my first official duty was to ascertain the number of inhabitants up to date,
so that in all my future reports this might form an accurate basis of calculation. Upon
application at Somerset House, the number given me was 39,704. This number has
been taken as the groundwork in estimating the average in the birth and death rates.
Nor did it seem calculated to make this basis fixed and determinate—as in my opinion it
ought to be, if accurate results are to ensue from calculations upon it—by introducing
wavering fluctuations due to an attempt to estimate the wandering, unfixed portion of
the population. It has appeared to me the most judicious plan to adopt the number
above given as the true foundation on which to work.
BIRTHS.
During the year the number of Births registered has been 1,445, of whom 744
were males and 701 females, showing excess of 43 males.
The following is a quarterly
statement of births:—
Males.
Females.
Total.
From January 1st to March 25th
193
193
386
„ March 25th to June 25th
187
175
362
„ June 25th to September 29th
229
204
433
„ September 29th to December 31st
135
129
264
744
701
1445
The birth rate per 1000 per annum is consequently very nearly 37.
DEATHS.
The number of deaths registered during the year has been 869, of whom 481 were
males and 388 females, the deaths of males exceeding in number that of females by 93.
The following is a quarterly return of deaths:—
Males.
Females.
Totals.
From January 1st to March 25th
128
99
227
„ March 25th to June 25th
105
101
216
„ June 25th to September 29th
152
120
272
„ September 29th to December 31st
86
68
154