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BIRTHS AND BIRTH RATE.
The births registered in the year numbered 3,763 —1,937
males and 1,826 females. There was one birth to 28"7
inhabitants and 100 births of males to 94 - 3 of females.
The 3,763 births were equal to a birth rate of 34.9 per
1000 inhabitants, which, although considerably higher than
that of the whole of London which was 30.1, is the lowest yet
recorded in Fulham.
Excess of Births over Deaths.
The natural increase of the population by excess of births
over deaths was 1,866, compared with 1,671, 1,428 and 1,679
in the three preceding years.
Illegitimate Children.
The birth of illegitimate children numbered 139 —65 males
and 74 females, forming 3 - 7 per cent, of the total births.
Still-born Children.
169 still-born children were buried in Fulham Cemetery,
being in the proportion of 1 still-born child to every 22
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.