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57
As has been explained in previous Reports, there are
disturbing influences affecting the calculation of the deathrate
from the deaths registered, which it is necessary, in
order to obtain correct data for the purpose, to take into
consideration. Thus the death register is very unduly raised
the mortality of the Surrey County Lunatic Asylum, by
St. Peter's Hospital, and the Hospital for Incurables, the
inmates of which institutions are derived, with a fractional
exception, from without the parish, undergo no natural
increase, and are of necessity subject to a high mortality.
The latter, during the past year, formed upwards of 31
per cent. of all deaths registered—an amount which must
render any deduction of the death-rate from such source
alone, entirely valueless. On the other hand, a considerable
number of deaths of Wandsworth parishioners take
place annually in the Infirmary of the Workhouse, which
are registered in Battersea, where that building is situated.
In order to arrive, therefore, at the natural rate of
death, it becomes necessary to eliminate from the calculation
the population and mortality of the above-named
institutions, and to add to it the deaths of Wandsworth
parishioners who died in the Infirmary during the year.
Thus determined, after correction in the manner indicated,
the mortality of the past year took place at the
extraordinary low rate of 12.59 per 1000, a rate which is
unprecedented in the records of the Board.
The following Table contains a summary of all the
causes of death arranged in accordance with the classification
of the Registrar-General, showing the sex, social
position and age at death at different periods, and particularizing
the several diseases of the Zymotic class :—