[Report 1904] / Medical Officer of Health, Colchester Borough.

  • Colchester (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1904] / Medical Officer of Health, Colchester Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/34 (page 3)
    The corrected death rate for the whole population offers the best basis for comparison with previous years. The figures for 1896 onwards are given in Table I. of the Local Government Board (see end of this report). From this table it will be seen that the corrected death rate for 1904 is considerably higher than the very low death rate (12-7) of 1903, while it is also above the average for the 8 years, 1896-1904, which is 14-8. As compared with 1903 there was an increase of 24 deaths from the Notifiable Infectious Diseases, and 74 from Diarrhoea and Enteritis. The increased death rate is very largely due to the great number of deaths (88) from Diarrhoea and Enteritis, and if there had been only the same number of deaths as in 1903 from these causes, the death rate would have been only 13'9. With regard to the causes of death these are set out in Table IV., stated in brief, 3-3 per cent, were due to the ordinary notifiable Infectious Diseases, 4-6 per cent to Measles and Whooping Cough, 10-8 per cent, to Phthisis and other Tubercular Diseases, 6 per cent to Malignant Disease (Cancer), 11 per cent, to Bronchitis and Pneumonia, 8 per cent, to Heart Disease, 14 per cent, to Diarrhoea and Enteritis, and 42 per cent, to all other causes. The death rate for the different Wards is shown in the following table, considering the civilian population only— Ward. Estimated Civilian Population middle of 1904. Deaths ( Civilian Population). Death Pate. North 7,522 115 153 South 12,050 190 15-7 East 9,267 182 19-6 West 7,591 123 16-2 36,430 610 16-7 These Ward populations can only be considered approximate estimations. The death rates for the different Wards are of interest, but cannot in themselves be taken as indicating the relative healthiness of the different Wards. This is at once shown, when it is noticed that the death rate for the East Ward is for 1904 higher than the others, while for 1903 it was the lowest, i.e., 11-9. The explanation of this lies not in any sudden alteration of healthy or unhealthy conditions in this Ward, but to the fact that, compared to population, the Diarrhoea mortality was heaviest in this Ward and so sent up the death rate. (See Table IV.) There are a large number of infants and young children in both the South and East Wards, and the death rate for any district is of course gfreatly influenced by the age and sex distribution of its inhabitants. I have not the data available to make the necessary corrections for this factor. Deaths in Public Institutions— Institutions. Residents. Non-Residents. Total. Essex and Colchester Hospital .... 20 17 37 Mile End Infectious Hospital 9 0 9 Colchester Workhouse 47 2 49 Eastern Counties’ Asylum 0 22 22 76 41 117 The ages of those who died in the Borough during the year were as follows— 182 or 28-9 per cent, under 1 year of age. 74 >> 11-8 over 1 year and under 5 years, 20 n 3-2 >> n 5 years »> 15 ,, 33 )) 5-2 n „ 15 )) )) 25 ,, 161 5) 25-5 >> ,, 25 I) 65 ,, 159 25-2 „ 65 years and upwards.