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persons aged 65 and upwards. In London generally the disease was
but slightly prevalent, only 690 deaths occurring in 1905, as against 709
in 1904, 644 in 1903, and 1,083 in 1902. Of the fatal cases in London
in 1905, 355 occurred in the first quarter of the year, 153 in the second,
37 in the third, and 145 in the fourth quarter.
Respiratory Diseases.—The death-rate from these diseases in
Chelsea in 1905 was 3.47 per 1,000, as against 3.58 per 1,000 in 1904,
272 per 1,000 in 1903, and 4.14 per 1,000 in 1902. The London
death-rate from respiratory diseases in 1905 was 3.02 per 1,000.
Tubercular Diseases.—The death-rate from phthisis and other
tubercular diseases in Chelsea in 1905 was 1.81 per 1,000, as against
230 per 1,000 in 1904. The death-rate in London in 1905 from these
diseases was 2 0 per 1,000. Of the 112 deaths from phthisis in Chelsea
in 1905, 60, or 53 per cent., occurred in the Chelsea Workhouse
Infirmary, and 9, or 8 per cent., in other public institutions.
Cancer.—Malignant cancerous diseases caused 72 deaths amongst
Chelsea residents in 1905, the average of the past 9 years being 77
deaths, the death-rate for 1905 being 0.97 per 1,000. Thirty-eight of
the cancer deaths were of North Chelsea residents, and 34 of South
Chelsea ressdents.
Alcoholism.—Twenty-six deaths were registered in 1905 as being
due to intemperance or cirrhosis of the liver, as against 18 in 1904,
21 in 1903, 26 in 1902, and 31 in each of the years 1900 and 1901.
These annual figures merely represent the deaths which are palpably
and unmistakably the results of alcoholic excess, and take no account
of the far larger numbers which are indirectly due to alcohol.
Deaths in Lunatic Asylums.—Forty-four deaths of Chelsea
parishioners occurred in 1905 in lunatic asylums. The average of the
14 years 1891-1904 is 32 deaths annually in lunatic asylums.
Deaths in Public Institutions.—In 1905, 46.3 per cent. of the
total deaths of parishioners of Chelsea occurred in public institutions, as
compared with 42.4 per cent. in 1904. In London generally, 37 5 per
cent. of the total deaths occurred in public institutions. The deaths in
the Chelsea Infirmary in 1905 formed 247 per cent. of the total deaths
of Borough residents, as compared with 22 3 per cent. in 1904.
DEATH-RATES OF SPECIAL CLASSES OF THE
POPULATION.
In considering the lowered death-rates characteristic of recent
years, which have resulted from improvements in sanitary administration
and other causes, it becomes important to inquire to what extent
different classes of the population, and especially the working classes,
have benefited in the general improvement in health noticeable in the
Borough generally.
The following Table shows the average death-rates of the home
district of Chelsea Parish and of the Borough of Chelsea for three