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6
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
That the birth-rate should show an increase might be
expected, owing to the growth of the Borough, and specially
owing to the increasing number of houses for the working classes,
in whom the birth-rate is always higher than among the well-to-do.
It is disappointing nevertheless to find that this increase is not
greater.
If we look at the birth-rate in the separate parishes it will be
seen that Tooting has a very high birth-rate, viz.:—33.95 per
1,000, and Wandsworth a rate of 31.92, while Putney has a rate of
only 21 .83 per 1,000. These rates show conclusively that the
birth-rates depend largely on the constitution of the population as
regards social position.
The birth-rate in the County of London for the year was
28.36, and for England and Wales 28.6 per 1,000.
The natural increase, or the excess of births over deaths was
12 88, compared with 12.69 in 1901, and 1158 the average for the
last ten years.
Deaths.
In the 53 weeks which make up the year 3,209 deaths, 1,606
of males and 1,603 of females, were registered in the Borough,
compared with 3,009 in the 52 weeks which made up the year 1901.
To compare this number with previous years and with the
average for the last ten years allowance must be made for the
extra seven days, and if this is done the total number of uncorrected
deaths becomes 3,148, compared with 3,009 in 1901, and
3,142 in 1900.
This number is 220 less than the decennial average corrected
for increase of population.
The uncorrected death-rate was I2.84, compared with 12 82
in 1901, 14 in 1900, and I3'8 the average for the previous ten years.
To ascertain the corrected death-rate corrections must be
made to the above by the addition of the deaths in out-lying
institutions of persons belonging to the Borough, and the subtraction
of all deaths in public institutions of persons not belonging
thereto, whose domicile was in other parts of London.