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rate; that the average duration of life (assuming the same
birth-rate and death-rate to be maintained from year to
year) could be accurately determined by comparing these
two rates ; and that the death-rate, taken by itself, would
be of little value in determining the healthiness or unhealthiness
of the locality. The subject is so important that I
shall venture to quote a paper on this subject which I read
some 20 years ago, before the Society of Medical Officers
of Health, and the more so because in that same paper I
quote from my annual report for the year 1863 some
remarks on the question I am now endeavouring to
answer. (See appendix).
I now proceed to answer the question put to me to
the best of my ability, and guided in no small degree by
the above considerations. In the first place, how is it that
Dulwich has, and always has had, such a remarkably low
mortality? and does that low mortality constitute a fair
measure of its healthiness? The low mortality of Dulwich
is no doubt very largely due to its remarkably low birthrate,
and to the comparatively small share which infantile
mortality takes in the estimation of its death-rate. It is
largely due," also, to another fact, and that is the relatively
great excess of inhabitants in the prime of life.
Dulwich contains, relatively to its population, the largest
number of well-to-do persons in the parish ; whilst, on the
other hand, St. George's and Peckham contain, relatively
to their populations, the largest number of poor people. A
well-to-do household comprises, as a rule, father and mother,
children and servants. Now these last are for the most
part in the prime of life. It is easy to see, therefore, that
Dulwich possesses from this cause a much larger proportion