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8
to have produced that increase, and then of course calculate
the death-rate from the population. Thus, in 1851
or in 1871, the birth-rate was 34 per 1000 (in round numbers),
or about 1 in 29. The mean birth-rate for the
decade 1861-71 was 33*25 per 1000, or 1 in 30. In all
London it was 1 in 28. It will be seen how nearly these
figures correspond, even at long intervals of time, and
how safe a guide they form as to the population. Additional
proof of this theory will be found in the above Table; for,
in the short space of six years, the birth-rate commences
with 34*5 and ends with 39 per 1000, while the number of
births does not increase in the same proportion, showing
conclusively that the rates are calculated on lower estimates
of the population than there should be. That is,
that the official population is not keeping abreast of the
actual population. Taking, therefore, 97,720 as the mean
population, and 3384 as the mean number of births during
the decade 1861-71, it follows that the present population,
instead of 153,648, should be 173,233, and the death-rate
18*2 instead of 20"5, or 16*6 excluding the deaths in public
institutions, and the birth-rate 34*6 instead of 39.*
Causes of Death.—In Table I. in the Appendix the
causes of death, and the sex, age, and social position of the
deceased, may be found for the entire district. As the
object of a report such as the present, is not only to collate
and comment upon sanitary and other pertinent facts
of the year under review, but also to compare or contrast
these with those of previous years, the following new
Table 'has been introduced for the first time, with the
view and hope of assisting such comparison or contrast.
Such a Table, moreover, may be useful in tracing out the
effect of sanitary legislation and other efforts in checking
or preventing the occurrence of some diseases, especially
those of an epidemic character.
By making use of both of the Tables referred to, the
reader will be better able to follow our remarks.
* The excess of births over deaths during the year 1876 was 2845, giving a
rate of natural increase of 18*5.