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15
SUMMARY OF VITAL AND MORTAL STATISTICS.
In the table at page 16, the principal statistics have been arranged in thirteen four-weekly
periods corresponding to the dates of the monthly reports. The annual birth-rate in 1906 was
19.1 per 1,000 of the population, the death rate 13.9. There were considerable fluctuations in the
death-rate at different periods, ranging between the minimum (10.9) in the sixth, ended June 16th,
and the maximum (16.9) in the thirteenth, ended December 29th. The rate in six periods was
above, and in seven below the average for the year. The deaths in the two halves were 1,238
and 1,259 respectively. The deaths from the principal diseases of the zymotic class were 278 : 31
more than in 1905, but 30 below the decennial average: 87 occurred in the first half of the year
and 191 in the second Measles was the prevalent and most fatal disease in the first half,
52 of the total deaths (81) having been registered therein. Diarrhoea was the cause of 142 deaths:
7 in the first half of the year and 135 in the second; of which 122 (mostly of infants) were
registered in twelve weeks, July 15th—October 8th. The deaths from diseases of the respiratory
organs were 458, and 79 fewer than in 1905. Diseases of the heart were accountable for 220 deaths,
compared with 209 in 1905; and phthisis for 214, as compared with 199. Other tubercular
diseases claimed 85 victims, against 74 in the preceding year.
COMPARATIVE VITAL AND MORTAL STATISTICS.
London.—The birth-rate, 26.7 per 1,000 (2.3 below the decennial average), was the lowest
on record. The rate has been declining for many years, never having been below 30 per 1,000 prior
to 1898: the highest rate during my tenure of office, 35.9 per 1,000, was recorded in 1876.
The adjusted death-rate was 15.1 per 1,000 (the same as in 1905), and 2.2 below the average
of the preceding ten years.
Small-pox, the cause of 242, 1,300, 13, 25, and 10, deaths, respectively, in 1901, 1902, 1903,
1904 and 1905, was unattended by fatality in 1906.
Scarlet-fever was the cause of 533 deaths, compared with 549 in 1905, and a decennial average
of 567.
Diphtheria was the cause of 691 deaths ; 145 more than in 1905, and 845 below the decennial
average.
Enteric-fever was the cause of 260 deaths, 26 more than in 1905, but less than half the
decennial average.
The four diseases above-named, commonly spoken of as the " dangerous infectious
diseases," were the causes of 1,484 deaths: the deaths from the other three principal diseases of
the zymotic class totalled 7,642, being 646 below the decennial average; viz., measles 1,909
(average 2,398), whooping-cough 1,226 (average 1,944), and diarrhoea 4,507 (average 3,946).
Kensington.—The birth-rate, 19.1 per 1,000, and the lowest on record, was 0.9 below the
rate in 1905, and 2.0 below the decennial average. Having regard to the disproportion in the
number of the sexes, a high birth-rate is not possible; but the fall from the maximum during my
tenure of office, viz., 31.7 in 1872, is unduly great.
The death-rate, 13.9 per 1,000; was 0.1 below that in 1905, and 1.5 below the decennial
average. The infantile mortality-rate, measured by the proportion of deaths under one year to
1,000 registered births, was 132; a decrease of 7 per 1,000, compared with the rate in 1905.
Scarlet-fever was the cause of 11 deaths, diphtheria of 19, and enteric-fever of 5; total 35 in a
population of 179,500; a surprisingly small number. The deaths from these diseases were 8,
18, and 10, respectively, below the decennial averages. The deaths from the remaining
three of the principal diseases of the zymotic class were 243: viz., measles 81 (average 79),
whooping-cough 20 (average 53), and diarrhoea 142 (average 104).
The table at page 21 shows the number of deaths in the several Wards from the principal
diseases of the zymotic class.
The mean temperature of the air at Greenwich during the year was 50°7 Fahrenheit and 1.3
above the means of the preceding 50 years: the means of the four quarters being 40.8, 52.2, 62.5
46.0 and, respectively.