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1 LF 52.
ILFORD URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.
Interim Report for 1918 of the Medical Officer of Health.
To the Chairman, and Members
of the Ilford Urban District Council.
Gentlemen,
In accordance with the suggestion of the local Government
Board, this interim report is brief. I hope to compile, together
with my report for the year 1919, a detailed report on the health
of the district during the War period, together with the needs of
the district in the future.
The Registrar-General's estimate of the civil population
in Ilford in the middle of 1918 was 72,825. This may he taken as
the actual resident civil population, and this figure is used in
calculating the death-rate. For the purpose of calculating the
birth-rate, the number of persons in the forces coming from Ilford
must he added to this estimate, and this gross estimate of the
Registrar-General is 81,598.
During 1918, 947 deaths of Ilford civilians occurred,
giving a death-rate of 13.00 per 1,000. This compares with 10.5,
8.91 and 10.5 in 1915, 1916 and 1917 respectively. The increased
death-rate is almost entirely due to the influenza epidemic.
During 1918 there were 1,053 births, 1,008 legitimate and
45 illegitimate. The figures for 1917 are 1,176 births, 1,123
legitimate and 53 illegitimate. In 1918 there were 1,490 births,
1,447 being legitimate and 43 illegitimate. The birth-rates are
1918 12.9
1917 14.4
1916 17.2
1915 19.1
1914 18.3
An examination of the above figures will show that while
the number of births in wedlock has diminished nearly a third, the
number of births out of wedlock remains about the same.
One can obtain some consolation for the diminished birthrate
from the fact that the average baby is now a finer creature
than babies of past times, owing to the increased attention and
scientific study given to its welfare and—health. There is every
reason to suppose that the number of births will increase now that
demobilisation is in course.
The number of illegitimate births continues at a high level
(that is for this town). This is much to be regretted by reason of
its effects on the children born out of wedlock.
During 1918, 73 infants died in the first year of life,
this gives an infantile mortality of 69 per 1,000 births. When ???e
compare legitimate and illegitimate children, a striking difference
is seen,
Legitimate-Infantile Mortality 60 per 1,000 births.
Illegitimate-Infantile Mortality 289 per 1,000 births.