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Appendix I. to Annual Report.
Report of the Medical Officer of health.
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the Borough of
Camberwell.
Gentlemen, —The population of London as calculated
to the middle of 1903 by the Registrar-General is 4,613,812,
showing an increase of 34,702 over the year 1902.
The various rates for the births, deaths and marriages
depend for their value as statistics on the accuracy of this
estimate.
In the 52 weeks ending January 2nd, 1904, 130,906
births were registered in the County of London compared with
132,810 in 1902; there were 80,430 persons married, a
decrease of 1,204; and 72,109 deaths occurred, compared with
82,540 in 1902.
The year 1902, however, for statistical purposes contained
53 weeks, so that the figures are not altogether comparable.
The greater length, however, of that year is not
sufficient to explain the great diminution .in the number
of deaths, which led to a decrease in the death rate of about
two per thousand for the whole county, while it is over three
per thousand on the average of the past ten years.
With the increased building operations that are going
on in certain parts of the Borough and also with the clearing
away of inhabited houses in other divisions, the estimation of
the population of the Borough and its sub-districts becomes an
increasing difficulty.
There are two ways that perhaps are the most accurate,
one, to assume that the Borough and its sub-districts are
increasing in population to the same extent that they did in
the years 1896-1901; the other to take the number of houses
assessed to the rates, and to find out what was the proportion of
inhabitants per assessment at the time of the Census in April,
1901. The estimation by assessment seems to me to be more
likely to give accurate results, for if we go on the other plan
St. George's district would show a decrease which would
amount to no inconsiderable number in the course of the inter-