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of Shoreditch during the year. As compared with those of last year, decreases
in the death rates of Hoxton and Haggerston Wards may be noted, but the
rates of the other six wards are all more or less increased. The death rate in
the Borough was lowest in Haggerston and highest in Whitmore, being 15.5
and 27.7 per 1,000 respectively. The death rate of the Borough was markedly
above the mean rate for the year from the middle of January until the middle
of May. During June, July, and August the rate was well below the mean.
Although there was a rise in the rate towards the end of August, it nevertheless
remained below the mean during the rest of the year. The rate was
highest during the month of March, when it averaged slightly over 30 per
1,000; it was lowest during the period extending from the first week of June
to the fourth week of July, the average being 11 per 1,000 inhabitants. The
highest rate for any one week occurred in the third week of March, when it
reached 34.2 per 1,000; the lowest was in the third week of July, when the
rate was only 9.2 per 1,000 inhabitants. The weather during March was cold
below the average, and measles, influenza and diseases of the respiratory organs
were prevalent. These were to a large extent accountable for the high death
rate during the month. The rise towards the end of August was due mainly to
the onset of summer diarrhoea which, however, did not affect the death rate
this year so markedly as usual.
The number of infants who died under one year of age was 512, 297 being
males and 215 females, the deaths amounting to a little over 23 per cent. of the
total number of deaths at all ages as compared with 25.4 per cent. for last,
year. The number of Shoreditch infants under one year dying during 1909
was at the rate of 138 per 1,000 births belonging to Shoreditch registered
during the year. This rate is the same as that for 1908, which was the
lowest recorded since 1870. The comparatively low infantile mortality this
year is to a considerable extent to be accounted for by the deaths from whooping
cough, bronchitis, and diarrhoeal diseases not being so numerous as usual.
The infantile mortality is higher amongst males than females, the average
for the eight years ending 1908 being 183 in the case of the former, and
159 in that of the latter. For 1909 the mortalities were 160 for males and
117 for females.
The chief causes of death amongst infants under the age of one year were
diarrhoea, enteritis, and other disorders of the stomach and intestines, prematurity,
weakness, wasting, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and suffocation
in bed. In Table V. (Appendix) is contained a statement showing
the causes of death of infants under the age of one year, the ages in weeks