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Deaths.
In Table IV. of Appendix will be found the Local Government Board tables dealing with
the deaths in the Borough. Table XIV. is an extended one inserted here for the first time, giving
particulars aS to age and sex distribution, and diseases. This in future years will be found very
useful to anyone who wishes to obtain in a convenient form for reference, details as to any
particular disease.
The total number of deaths registered in the Borough during the 52 weeks ending
December 31st, 1904, was 2,142, which is 169 more than in 1903, and 337 less than the average
for the last 10 years.
When this figure is corrected by exclusion of deaths of non-parishioners occurring in the
district and the inclusion of deaths of parishioners occurring outside the district, the number is
raised to 2,593. This is 211 more than in 1903 and 257 less than the average for the last ten
years.
The annexed table shows the distribution of deaths in quarters, together with the corresponding
ponding quarters of 1903. The largest number of deaths occurred as usual in the first and
fourth quarters. Comparing 1904 with the previous year it will be seen that there is a
substantial increase in all the quarters except the last. The greatest increase, which is 74,
appears in the third quarter, and is entirely due to summer diarrhœa. This subject will be
discussed later.
Table B.
Quarter.
Bermondsey.
Rotherhithe.
St. Olave's.
Whole Borough.
1903.
1904.
1903.
1904.
1903.
1904.
1903.
1904.
423
48
70
689
400
179
627
First
196
Second
330
401
160
548
161
58
53
615
362
389
67
Third
182
163
51
545
619
431
Fourth
421
134
193
47
56
662
670
1523
1634
655
246
2382
Total
Deaths
713
204
2593
The death rate of the Borough during 1904 was 20.1 per 1,000 living inhabitants, being
1.7 above that recorded for 1903 and 1.2 below the average for the last ten years. This is a
slight increase on 1903, and an examination of Table D will show that the three registration
sub-districts of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and St. Olave's all participated in this increase.
Table C.- Increase or Decrease of Diseases in 1904 Compared with 1903.
Increase.
Decrease.
Amount.
Amount.
Amount.
Amount.
Measles 86
Bronchitis 6
Scarlet Fever 7
Cancer 6
Whooping Cough 27
Pneumonia 30
Diphtheria 1
Pleurisy 3
Enteric 5
Alcoholism and
Cirrhosis of
Liver 11
Typhus 4
Other Respiratory
Diseases 7
Continued Fever 3
Influenza 5
Diarrhœa 86
Enteritis 8
Diseases of Parturition 9
Erysipelas 6
Venereal 1
Premature Birth 10
All other causes 9
Puerperal Fever 2
Accidents 5
Other Tubercular
Diseases 49
Heart Diseases 5
Suicides 4
Phthisis 36
By adding the above figures it will be seen that the increases amount to 336 and the
decreases to 125, making a balance of 211 in favour of 1903. The smaller figures are naturally
accounted for by the variations which must occur in the number of deaths from year to year,
but taking three diseases, viz., measles, whooping cough and diarrhœa, they make a total of 199,
which practically accounts for the increase, leaving the question of bronchitis and pneumonia
out of account. Against the increase of phthisis one can balance the decrease in other tubercular
diseases.
In column 1, at the foot of Table I. of the Appendix, will be found a list of places where
the deaths of non-parishioners occurred in the district. 14 such deaths occurred in the St.
Olave's Infirmary, 9 in the River Thames, 5 in the Surrey Commercial Docks, 2 in the St. Olave's
Workhouse, Parish Street, 4 at South Wharf, and 1 at each of the following Globe Wharf,
Rotherhithe; South BermondseyStation; S. E. & C. Ry., Rotherhithe L. B. & S. C. Ry., London
Bridge; a granary in St. Marychurch Street; ss. "Grattan," River Thames; 7, Duke Street;
203, Lower Road; 91, Silwood Street; 63, Leroy Street.
There were 44 such deaths registered as occurring in the Borough in 1904, against 40 in
1903. This is practically the average number.