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fication of the sick in hospitals might be made, and there would bo,
consequently, less chance of infection or poisoning by hospital malaria. The
question is becoming of paramount importance, and the notice now taken of
it by the Registrar General will doubtless hasten its consideration by the
public. Separation and domesticity are the two principles which should
govern any future system of hospital organization.
The Birth-rate in St. Giles District.
According to the returns of the Registrar General the number of births
in St. Giles District for the year 1869 was 1845. The numbers registered
for the three sub-districts were as follow:— St. George Bloomsbury, 470;
St. Giles South, 880; St. Giles North, 495. These figures, however, require
correction. The District of St. Giles contains the British Lying-in Hospital,
which receives patients from all parts of London; and during the past year
there were 163 births in that institution that do not properly belong to St. Giles
District, although registered within it. These, therefore, must be deducted
from the aggregate, and more particularly from the figures for St. Giles
South. Again, there were 104 births in the Workhouse, which are
appropriated in the returns to St. Giles South, in which sub-district the
Workhouse lies. These births must be distributed among the three subdistricts
in due proportion according to the previous residences of the mothers.
The births in the Lying-in Hospital which belong to us must also be distributed
among the three sub-districts. When these corrections have been
made, the figures stand thus:—St. George Bloomsbury, 485 births; St. Giles
South, 672; St. Giles North, 531; whole District, 1688.
These numbers differ very materially from the figures recorded in tho
registers, and it must be evident that any calculations that have been hitherto
founded upon the registered birth-rate of St. Giles must be deceptive. The
subjoined Table exhibits the birth-rate to population.

It is thus made apparent that the birth-rate in Bloomsbury is very much
lower than that in St. Giles South—the rate in the latter district being about
one-fourth greater than the former; whilst the birth-rate in St. Giles North
holds a medium position, being equal to that for the whole District.
The Death-rate in St. Giles District.
The number of deaths registered must, for the same reason, be treated
in the same manner as the births; in accordance with the usual practice for
the death-rate.
The Registrars' return for the whole District is 1452 deaths, which
occur in the following proportions: — St. George Bloomsbury, 332;
St. Giles South, 700; St. Giles North, 420. When the proper additions
have been made for the deaths in hospitals, and when the deaths in the
Workhouse have been distributed among the three sub-districts in the proportion
to which the persons, when living, belonged, the following arc the