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57
1897
taken separately with the exception of Hornsey's, which was 0.26 per
1,000.
It nearly approached that of the 33 Great Towns (0.31), a position
which it has not attained for many years. This return includes that of
London (0.51), which, if excluded, would leave the rate of the 32 Great
Towns at 0.18 per 1,000, a rate which seems almost beyond hoping
for here.
The Islington death-rate was only exceeded in the Great Towns by
Cardiff (0.53), Wolverhampton (0.62), Leicester (0.36), Burnley (0.57),
and yet looking on the disease as it has prevailed with us and in London
in past years the death-rate far the year must be considered satisfactory.
The return for the preceding twelve years given above shows that
since 1887 there has been a steady upward tendency in the mortality
returns for which there seems only one way to account, namely the
influence of schools. In a later part of this report this subject is
discussed, and charts printed, which show fairly conclusively that
these, if not the chief factor in its propagation, are at least a potent
influence for evil.
Of the London Districts only seven show a lower death-rate. These
are Hammersmith (0.28), St. George's, Hanover Square (0.21), St. James,
Westminster (0.13), Hampstead (0.22), St. Giles (0.19), St. Martin'sin-the-Fields
(0.24), Strand (0.21).