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16
THE GENERAL MORTALITY FOR THE YEAR 1872.
67. The year 1872 was a peculiarly healthy one, and the mortality was
exceptionally low,—at the rate of 21.4 per 1000 persons living. The Registrar
General informs us that "Diarrhoea was the prevalent fatal zymotic
disease in London, and raised the summer mortality;" then followed, in
succession, whooping-cough, small-pox, measles, and fever.
68. The temperature was mild throughout the year, and during the last
quarter there was an excessive rain-fall. What influence this may have had
in diminishing the number of deaths from zymotic diseases is very doubtful.
It must be remembered, that during the period that relapsing fever prevailed
in St. Giles, there was also an excess of rain, to which there was reason to
believe that the fever was in some way attributable. Until the true or
specific cause of the several fevers be known, the influence of general causes
must remain disputable. The Registrar General points out that "the mortality
had two maxima in the cold second week of January, and in the hot
first week of August"; and, he observes, "thus the winter and summer
diseases prevail most respectively in the coldest and hottest weather; and
then their decline reduces the mortality to a minimum." This is corroborative
of past experience.
69. The annual Birth Rate in London was 35.4 per 1000 persons
living. The Birth Rate for St. Giles was only 29.9.
The Birth Rate in St. Giles District.
70. The total number of registered births in St, Giles District, during
the year, was 1774, but various corrections are necessary, in order to bring
the official register in accordance with the actual number of births occurring
among our population. In the first place, there were 193 births in the
Lying-in Hospital, of which only 20 belonged to our District, as ascertained
from the previous residences of the mothers. Of the 20 so belonging to us. 8
must be appropriated to St. Giles North, and 2 to St. George, Bloomsbury.
The excess of 173 births must of course be subtracted from our total
number, and also particularly from the number for St. Giles South, in which
sub-district the Hospital stands. The numbers belonging to the subdistricts
must also be properly allocated.
71. Again, 108 births occurred in the Workhouse, all of which are
entered against St. Giles South; but if we appropriate them to the subdistricts,
in accordance with the reputed residences of the mothers on admission,
26 must be added to the register for St. Giles North, and 14 added to
the register for St. George, Bloomsbury. The aggregate 40 must be subtracted
from the number of St. Giles South. There were also five births in
the Workhouse, five in which the addresses of the mothers were unknown,
and two from outside parishes. I leave the latter where I found them in
the register for St. Giles South.
72. These corrections having been made, the actual births amounted to
1601; and of this number, 460 belonged to St. George, Bloomsbury; 594
to St. Giles South: and 547 to St. Giles North.