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29
This table will be found useful as contrasting the birth
and death rates for the last ten years.
For the years 1876-7-8-9 the estimated (not the official)
rates have been given, which former the census returns
shewed to have been almost absolutely correct. The
birth-rate for those years was estimated at 42 per
thousand. The official birth-rate for those years was
53.8; 51.4; 58.0, and 56.0 per thousand, obviously
excessive and incorrect. The rates which time has
pioved to be the correct ones are therefore given.
For similar reasons the actual natural increase of
population by excess of births over deaths is here shewn
instead of the rate of increase per thousand.
Births. The births registered during 52 weeks comprised
in the year 1885 were 2496. The males registered
were 1,301 in number, and the females 1,195. The
consequent birth-rate would be 37.4 per thousand per
annum, the lowest birth-rate yet recorded for East
Battersea and shewing an approximation to the rate for
the Metropolis at large, which was 32.6, the lowest
recorded with one exception. It may be anticipated
that in a few years the birth-rate in the sub-district will
be identical with that for London as a whole, it having
fallen 5 per thousand per annum duriug the last five
years.
Mortality. During 1885 the deaths of 1,071 persons
were registered. Of these 545 were males and 526 were
females. Upon the official mean population of 66,654
the death rate was 16 per thousand during the year.
This is the lowest rate of mortality which it has been my
province to record and contrasts favourably with the
Metropolitan mortality of 19.7 per thousand.