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density of the population ; thus in four of the enumeration districts in
the centre of the parish with a total population of about 9,000,
there are 270 persons to the acre.
MARRIAGES.
The number of marriages which took place in Fulham during
1893 was 735, against 759 and 705 during the two preceding years.
The marriage rate, i.e., persons married per 1000 inhabitants, was 14.5,
the rate for the whole of London being 17.1, and for England and
Wales, 14.6
BIRTHS AND BIRTH RATE.
3711 births were registered during the year, of these 1860 were
males and 1851 were females. There was one birth to every 28.2
inhabitants, the birth rate being 35.4, considerably above that for the
whole of London which was 30.9.
Illegitimate Children.
The births of illegitimate children were 166, 95 males and 71
females, forming 4.5 per cent. of the total births.
Still-born Children.
184 still-born children were buried in the Fulham Cemetery, representing
a proportion of one still-born child in every 20 births.
A record of still-births is much needed and among the recommendations
of the Select Committee of the House of Commons for the
improvement of Death Certification and Registration is one to the
effect that still-births which have reached the stage of development of
seven months should be registered upon the certificate of a registered
medical practitioner, and that it should not be permitted to bury or
otherwise dispose of the still-birth until an order for burial has been
issued by the registrar. This is certainly desirable, but there seems to
be no adequate reason why it should apply only to still-births of seven
months' gestation and upwards and that cases under that age should be
left unprovided for. A medical certificate and an order for burial should
be required in every case of still-birth irrespective of the period of
gestation.