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represent the true death-roll of Hackney, for a certain number of
Hackney residents dying in outside institutions is not included. After
making this necessary correction, I arrive at death rate of 19.0 per
1,000 against 17.2 per 1,000 for the year 1892. The death-rate for
the whole of London for 1893 was 21.3 per 1,000. The increase in
the death-rate was due to the great prevalence of the specific febrile
diseases in Hackney during the year.
Infant Mortality.— The deaths of children under one year
numbered 1,045, an increase of 133 over the preceding year. Calculated
as a rate per 1,000 of births, this is equal to 151.4 per 1,000.
The rate for 1892 was 134.9, and that for all London 164 per 1,000.
The infant mortality taken for a series of years is considered a fair
index to the sanitary condition of a district. The high rate obtaining
for 1893 was due to the excessively hot and dry summer, which carried
off by summer diarrhoea a large number of infants, and to the prevalence
of the infectious fevers, the victims to which are mostly young
children.
Below is given a table of the principal causes of deaths of infants,
with the deaths distributed in the four quarters of the year.