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10
It is somewhat peculiar to note that for the past three years the total
number of marriages celebrated in this parish has not varied, and as
our population is increasing the marriage rate shews a constant
diminution.
The marriage rate for the whole of London was 17.8, and was the
lowest on record. This is probably accounted for by the great
depression which has existed in trade during the past year.
DEATHS OF INFANTS.
(Under One Year.)
No less than 27.7 per cent. of the deaths from all causes were those
of infants aged less than 12 months; for out of 5,310 children born,
853 died before reaching that age, only 4,457 surviving. This gives
a death rate, calculated upon the births, of 162.4, or of G.6 per
thousand population at all ages.
The diseases most fatal to infants were—Atrophy and Debility, 187;
Inflammatory Chest Diseases, 180; Convulsions, 95; Diseases of Drain, 76;
Diarrhoea, 47; Consumption of Dowels, 42; Suffocation, 40; Measles, 26.
The Registrar-Greneral, in noting the low mortality rate of London
in 1883, remarks that a small share of the diminution must be
attributed to the fact that the birth rate was so excessively low, so
that the proportion of infants in the population was considerably
below the average. The mortality of infants is always high, but in
1883 it was much lower than usual, as the deaths of infants in the
first year of life were to the births in the proportion of 146 to 1,000,
whereas the proportion in the preceding decennium was 155.
DEATHS OF YOUNG- CHILDREN.
As usual rather more than half the deaths (51.3 per cent.) were
those of young children aged less than five years.
Assuming that the proportion of young children to adults has
remained constant since the census in 1881, the number in 1883 would
be 19,594; upon this estimate as a basis, we shew a death rate of
80.43 per thousand children living.