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134
Here is a history of increased overcrowding during the period
under consideration, all the new comers having taken up residence
in the Court during periods varying from one month to three
years, to the detriment of the condition both of the houses and
people. The condition of the houses is open to very grave
criticism, though it cannot be presented in figures. The death
rates, however, are even more expressive. In the last three years
(1900-02) there have been 24 deaths in this one little Court, 7 in
1900, 8 in 1901, and 9 in 1902. This gives an average death rate of
526 per 1,000 (as compared with 46 per 1,000 in the five years
1895-99, and 21.3 per 1,000 for the Borough of Finsbury in 1901).
Of the 24 deaths 10 were of infants under one year of age, which is
43% of the total deaths, and yields the high infant mortality of
714 per 1,000 births (as compared with 140 for all Finsbury, and
148 for all London in 1901). The births during the three years
have been 14. Further, the diseases which have caused the deaths
of these 24 persons have been of a character due in the main to
bad housing and its effects — namely, lung diseases, 11, wasting
diseases of children, 9, abdominal diseases, 3, and poisoning, 1—
total, 24.
(iii). Births on the Areas.—The births taking place during
the years 1900, 1901, and 1902, on the three areas numbered 164,
which gives an average birth-rate (calculated on the population of
the three years), of 35 per 1,000, as compared with 32 for all
Finsbury in 1901. The birth-rate on each of the five areas was
substantially the same.
(iv). Deaths on the Areas.—The two clear calendar years
following the schemes for these five areas were 1901 and 1902.
During these two years 108 deaths occurred on the areas. The
deaths and death-rates (calculated on the changing population),
are set out as follows :—