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18971] 14

In London the rate during the year was 17.58, and in England
and Wales 18.5 per 1000 inhabitants.
BIRTHS.
There were 9,842 births registered during the year as against 9,921
in the preceding year, which, it must be recollected, consisted of 53
weeks. The birth-rates are, however, almost identical, that for 1896
being 28.82 compared with 28.83 in 1897.
Of the births 5,045 were those of males and 4,797 of females. The
proportion of females born to every 100 males was 95.1.
In Table VIII. it will be noticed that for some six years past the
birth-rate has been gradually declining, but curiously enough being about
equal to that which obtained in the first decade of systematic registration,
when it was 28.65 per 1,000 inhabitants (Table IX.). In column 5
of this Table the births have been calculated on the supposition
that the inhabitants in the parish at each period were equal to the
number living in 1897. There it is seen that the births per annum in
the decade 1841-50 were on the average 101 less than those of 1897,
but in 1851-60 they averaged 1,950 more; in 1861-70 2,855, in 1871-80
2,650, in 1881-90 1,272, and in the six years 1891-96 263 more than in
the year just closed. This is certainly not a matter for congratulation
for in communities which are full of energy and work the birth-rate
is generally high, whereas in communities and nations where these
qualities are lacking it usually declines. Islington, however, is not
as yet "to hastening ills a prey," for never in its history was it so
full of business life, nor did its streets so resound with traffic.