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This Table shows that, taking the whole period from 1893 to 1904,
whilst the population of the poor streets is only 78 per cent, in excess
of the industrial dwellings population, yet the deaths of infants under
one year in the poor streets are 211 per cent, in excess, the deaths of
children aged 1 to 5 years are 223 per cent, in excess, and the deaths
of persons over 5 are 190 per cent, in excess of those occurring in the
industrial dwellings. The percentage reduction of deaths of infants
under 1 in the industrial dwellings population in the third period as
compared with the first is 39 per cent., and in the poor class streets
36 per cent. The percentage reduction of deaths between 1 and 5 in
these two periods are 53 per cent, for industrial dwellings and
51 per cent, for the poor class streets. To some slight extent this
diminution in the deaths of infants and young children may be accounted
for by the lower birth-rate of recent years ; but, on the whole, the larger
proportion of infants and children's lives saved in recent years is probably
attributable to improved sanitaxy conditions and the lesser incidence
of zymotic diseases on the population.
Zymotic Death-rates.—Table VIII. shows that the death-rates
from the seven zymotic diseases are very much in excess in the population
of the poor class streets of those recorded for the community
at large. In the industrial dwellings there is also an excess, but it is
not nearly so great. The larger proportion of children at susceptible
ages in the working class populations is no doubt accountable for a
small part of the excess, but does not explain the very great disproportions
exhibited in the Table. The years 1893 to 1896 were marked
by excessive incidence of scarlet fever and diphtheria, whilst the period
1897-1900 had several hot summers, and diarrhoea was very prevalent
in these hot seasons. The encouraging feature in the Table is the very
great reduction (50 per cent.) in the zymotic death-rate of the period
1901-1904 amongst the poor class street population as compared with
the earlier periods. This is partly due to cool summer seasons and
absence of serious epidemics, and too much importance, therefore, should
not be attached to it; but so much of the reduced death-rate as is
due to decreased enteric fever mortality is probably of a more permanent
nature and independent of varying climatic conditions.
Phthisis and Tubercular Diseases.—In the industrial dwellings
populations these diseases show a steady and satisfactory diminution;
and, having regard to social conditions, the death-rates are not excessive.
In the poor class street population, however, these diseases claim an