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7
In the statement of weekly averages the deaths will be
seen to have been greater in seven months of the year,
—namely, April, June, August, October, November, and
December,—than in any other year since the passing of the
Metropolis Local Management Act. This may, again, be in
part ascribed to the gradual and continual increase to our
population. Nevertheless I feel satisfied that the average
of disease and death is higher than in former years; and
this, too, from causes not to be traced with precision. The
mortality in the Hamlet has steadily diminished since 1856,
little deflection having been observed during the several
years, taken one with another, and allowing for the natural
increase of population.
Like causes ought, according to good reasoning, to produce
like effects; but this, though true with regard to
general conclusions, is not absolutely correct when we come
to deal with vital statistics on a small scale. It is only by
the adoption of a very wide area of observation that we can
obtain results which may be assumed to be approximately
true. It has hitherto happened that the death rate in the
Hamlet has been rather below than above the average to be
expected in a population consisting, as does that of Mile
End Old Town, of persons engaged in various occupations
not altogether favourable to longevity. Compared with
districts having a population of manufacturers, our mortality
has certainly been lower than might have been
premised. It is the nature of disease to fluctuate in its kind,
character, and severity ; and when we remember the habits,
the modes of life, and the sort of dwellings of a considerable
proportion of our resident population, we may fairly congratulate
ourselves on the favourable aspect of life and