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An analysis and comparison of the death-rates of London and Shoreditch with
its sub-districts for the year 1898 is shewn in table XXXI, (see Appendix). The
death-rate was highest in Shoreditch South, and lowest in Hoxton New Town. The
death-rate was high during the months of January, February and March, mainly
attributable to deaths from measles, whooping cough, and diseases of the chest.
For twelve weeks during the months of May, June and July, the death-rate was
considerably below the average, being for this period 15.5 per 1,000. During the last
week in July there was a marked rise in the death-rate, and the rate remained high
until the first week in October, being during this period 27.5 per 1,000. This
elevation of the death-rate was the result of the prevalence of diarrhoea. The
smallest number of deaths recorded during any single week of the year was in the
second week of June, 27 deaths occurred, being a rate of only 11.6, the largest number
was during the third week of January, when there were 85 deaths, the death rate for
that week being 36.8 per 1,000.
The age distribution and causation of the deaths in the parish and its four subdistricts
are set forth in tables XXIX and XXX, also in table A, which is a form of
classification according to diseases, ages and localities, required by the Local
Government Board (see Appendix). In order to obtain the correct number of deaths
in any of the age-groups or under any of the headings in table A, the total number of
deaths occurring outside the district among persons belonging thereto must be added
and the number of deaths occurring within the district among persons not belonging
thereto, must be deducted.
The infants who died under the age of one year numbered 846, an increase of
57 as compared with last year. Of these 440 were males, and 406 females. In 165
instances death was attributed to diarrhoea, in 41 to enteritis, in 37 to whooping
cough, in 20 to measles, and in 49 to various forms of tuberculosis. Convulsions
caused 66 deaths, bronchitis 76, pneumonia 53, 100 were attributed to debility at
birth, and 115 to causes not specified or ill-defined, including 84 to marasmus. Of
49 deaths due to violence 38 were attributed to suffocation in bed through accident
or negligence, as compared with 35 in 1897, 29 in 1896, 33 in 1895, 20 in 1894, and
30 in 1893. Notwithstanding the repeated warnings of coroners at inquests with
respect to the causation of these deaths, so far as Shoreditch is concerned there does
not appear to be any diminution in numbers annually recorded.
The mortality amongst infants under one year formed 31.2 per cent, of the
total mortality in the parish, as compared with 29.6 per cent, in 1897, 29.5 per cent,
in 1896, 30.3 per cent, in 1895, 28.1 per cent, in 1894, 25.7 per cent, in 1893, 25.6 per
cent, in 1892, and 26.3 per cent, in 1891.
The mortality amongst infants under one year was at the rate of 199.8 per 1000
births in the parish, as compared with an infant mortality for the whole of the
metropolis of 167 per 1000 births, and for England and Wales of 161 per 1000 births
registered. Shoreditch has a high infant mortality such as is usually met with in