View report page

17
Death-rate in England and Wales and in London and in other Large Towns.—
The death-rate in England and Wales in 1906, was 15.4 per 1.000; 0.2 above that of 1905;
1.4 below the average rate in the preceding ten years, and the lowest yet recorded. The rate in
London, was 15.1 per 1,000 of the estimated population, the same as in 1905; 2.2 below
the average rate in the 10 years 1896-1905. and the lowest on record.

Greater London.—The death-rate in "Greater London"—which is co-extensive with the
"Metropolitan" and "City" Police Districts, the population of which at the middle of the year
was 7,113,561 (viz. 4,721,217 in Inner or Registration London and 2,392,344 in the Outer Ring) was
14.4 per 1,000, as compared with 14.5,15.5, and 14.4, severally, in the preceding three years. In the
County of London the mortality was at the rate of 15.1 per 1,000, whilst in the Outer Ring it did
not exceed 13.0. Infantile mortality in Greater London was equal to 128 per 1000 births, as
compared with 126, 143, and 123, severally, in the preceding three years. Last year infantile
mortality was equal to 131 per 1,000 in the County of London, and to 125 in the Outer Ring.
Other Large Towns.—The crude death-rate in the seventy-six large towns, including
London (population 15,818,360), was 15.9 per 1,000; the rates in the preceding three years having
been 16.3, 17.2 and 15.7. The death-rates of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin and Belfast were
severally 16.0, 17.8, 24.1, and 20.1. These rates are calculated without reference to differences
between one town and another with regard to the age and sex-disiribution of their respective
populations. But the sex and age composition of the several populations having been ascertained
at the census of 1901, suitable factors have been calculated for correcting the recorded death-rates
in the large towns in order to render them fairly comparable with one another; and in his Annual
Summary the Registrar-General (page viii.) furnishes a table showing the recorded and corrected
death-rates per 1,000 persons living, in each of the 76 towns in 1906.
Colonial and Foreign Cities.—The authorities of a large number of the principal cities
supply returns of mortality to the Registrar-General. The highest death-rates recorded in 1906,
were, St. Petersburg 25.5, Budapest 19.3, and Rome 18.7; the lowest, Sydney 10.7, Melbourne 13.6,
and Amsterdam 13.7.
Indian Cities.—The death-rate was 31.7 per 1,000 in Calcutta, 43.8 in Madras, and
54.4 in Bombay.
ASSIGNED CAUSES OF DEATH.
The Registrar-General issued, in 1902, a "New List of Causes of Death," as used in the
Annual Reports for England and Wales, together with " Suggestions to Medical Practitioners
respecting Certificates of Causes of Death," in which it is stated to be " highly desirable that
Medical Practitioners should use only those terms which are recognised by the Royal College of
Physicians of London." * This List takes the place of the one used in these reports for many
years as Table III., and since 1900 as Table VIII. It comprises "General Diseases," i.e.,
those in which the whole body may be said to suffer, and " Local Diseases," of various
systems and organs, set out in Table VIII., at page 122, in which the first twenty diseases are those
formerly described as "Specific, Febrile or Zymotic Diseases;" chief among them being the
nine " Principal Zymotic Diseases;" three of which were formerly associated under the generic
term " Fever," which comprises Typhus-fever, Enteric-fever, and Pyrexia.
* The Registrar-General placed at my disposal a sufficient number of copies of the New List to enable me to forward one
to each registered medical practitioner in the Borough, which was done in October, 1902.