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11
statistics, even when all other conditions are equal. The larger
the proportion at the reproductive ages, the greater the birth
rate; a lesser death rate also follows, because these ages have
low rates of mortality. The high birth and low death rates
of Merton tend to show that there is a fair proportion of people
at the healthy periods of life; but, on the other hand, it may
be fairly assumed that the high birth rate and low infant
mortality for the past five years have also increased the comparative
number of children at the unfavourable age period
of under five. Another factor which comes into play is the
proportion of people over 45, this again having an appreciably
higher rate of mortality than the periods between 5 and 45.
How far the favourable influences counteract the unfavourable
in giving a correct value to our figures it would be impossible
to state, without knowledge of the exact numbers alive under
the ages of 5 and over 45, and the proportion they bear to
those alive between 5 and 45. But it may be usefully borne
in mind that 75 per cent. of our deaths took place at ages
before 5 and after 45 years.
The following figures from the Registrar General's
returns at the last Census may make my points clear:—
For every thousand of all ages the proportions were:—