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ought to be the death-rate. An intermittently high birthrate,
on the contrary, would increase the percentage of
children under 5 years, and so, indirectly, the death-rate.
These facts are important.
The age distribution of a population depends, too, on the
increase or decrease from immigration or emigration.
I may summarise by saying that a high birth-rate does
not necessarily cause a high death-rate, and vice versa;
nor does the death-rate necessarily directly affect the birthrate.
The death-rate and birth-rate must be taken together, as
the death-rate per se gives no reliable information as to
the relative healthiness or otherwise of a particular district.
For this reason, in considering the statistics of the various
Registration Sub-districts of Lambeth, I have given their
birth-rates and death-rates side by side, so that any deductions
that are drawn are on the understanding of the
importance of their inter-relationship.