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18
Deaths.
10. Table 1 gives the gross and nett deaths and death-rates
in 1908 and each of the past ten years, and shows how the nett
deaths are arrived at.
The nett death-rates (which are the only ones referred to,
unless otherwise specified), are obtained by distribution of
deaths in public institutions, and deaths upon which inquests
were held, to their proper locality, according as they occur
outside or inside the Borough. But in order to institute a fair
comparison between one district and another, it is necessary to
further correct the death-rate for sex and age distribution, for
it is obvious that a population containing a large number of
young persons between the ages of 5 and 30, when the deathrate
is very low, should have a lower death-rate than one
containing an excess of aged persons. The factor for the
correction of the Woolwich death-rate is 1.0690.
11. The nett deaths were 1487, and the nett death-rate was
116. The death-rate in 1907 was 12.5. Last year had again
the lowest death-rate recorded for the Borough.
12. By multiplying by 1.0690, the factor for age distribution,
we get the corrected death-rate, viz., 12.4 which rate
should be used in comparing Woolwich with other places.