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5
Judging by the rate of mortality in large towns,
sanitary progress has not been very flattering. In the
largest towns of the kingdom, including now about
seven millions of people, the mortality is one-third in
excess of its normal proportions, and greater than it
would have actually been amongst the same population
living in rural districts. The deaths in cities being
26.2 per 1000, and 17.0 per 1000 in rural places.
The average death-rates throughout the country
generally are about 22.4 per 1000. In 1841 it was
21.59 ; in 1851 it was 21.99, and in 1861 it was 21.63.
But in places where dwellings have been improved,
over-crowding abated, subsoil drainage, atmospheric
pollution and water supply attended to, the length of
life has increased, and the death-rate has been reduced
to 18 or 20 per 1000. Disease may be said to have
been just kept at bay.
It is much to be regretted that the Census Returns
will not be, and never have been, sufficiently elaborated
to give specific information of the statistics of large
populated streets and places, thus affording means of
comparing the vital statistics and population of these
with the mansions and squares. The proportionate
number of young children, and of persons at advanced
ages, living in certain streets or districts, and of certain
trades and conditions, are also necessary data which
ought to be officially known to every Medical Officer of
Health, whose function is to compare the health of one
part of his district with another. These calculations
must be deferred until I can procure the necessary
information, which I believe may be obtained by a
special application made at the Census Office.