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15
DEATH-KATE IN ENGLAND AND WALES, AND IN LONDON, AND IN OTHER
LARGE TOWNS, Etc.
The deatli-rate in England and Wales in 1901 was 16.9 per 1,000, and 1.3 below the
average rate in the ten years, 1891-1900. The rate in London, as already stated, was 17.6 per
1,000, being 1.9 below the decennial average; but by excluding the deaths of persons ascertained
to have been strangers, the death-rate of London is reduced to 17.1 per 1,000.

Greater London.—The death-rate in " Greater London," which is co-extensive with the
Metropolitan and City Police districts, the population at the middle of the year 1901, numbering
6,606,132 (viz., 4,544,983 in Inner or Registration London, and 2,061,149 in the Outer Ring),
was 16.3 per 1,000, as compared with 17.2, 18.3, and 17.3, in the three preceding years respectively.
The deaths properly belonging to the Outer Ring, as distinguished from Inner or
Registration London, were equivalent to a rate of only 13.4, the rate in the Inner Ring having
been 17.6. The death-rate from the principal diseases of the zymotic class in Inner London,
was 2.25 per 1,000; in the Outer Ring 2.16, the rate in Greater London, as a whole, being
2.22 per 1,000. The infantile mortality of Greater London was 146 per 1,000 births; of Inner
London, 149; of Outer London, 139.
Other Large Towns.—The death-rate in the thirty-three large towns, including London,
and having a population of 11,464,959, was 18'6 per thousand ; ranging from 12.9 at Croydon,
15.2 at Derby, and 15.8 at Cardiff, to 21.9 at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 22.1 at Manchester, and 22.3 at
Liverpool. The death-rates of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin were 19.3, 21.1, and 24.7 per
1,000 respectively. These death-rates are calculated without correction for differences between
one town and another in regard to the age and sex-distribution of their respective populations.
This explanation is necessary because, as the Registrar-General points out, " In consequence
of the great difference between one town and another, with respect to age and sex-constitution of
their several populations, recorded death-rates require correction before they can be justly used
for purposes of comparison." The Registrar-General, as already stated, gives in his annual
summary factors by the use of which the necessary corrections can be made with approximate
accuracy for each town.
Indian and Foreign Cities.—The death-rate of some of the principal Indian and
foreign cities was as follows—Indian cities: Calcutta, 46.5 per 1,000 ; Madras, 55.1 ; and
Bombay, 76.7. European cities: Paris, 18.6 per 1,000; St. Petersburg, 24.1; Moscow, 28.9;
Berlin, 18.0; Vienna, 19.7; and Rome, 20.0. American cities: New York, 20.0 per 1,000; Boston,
19.7; Philadelphia, 18.7; and New Orleans, 21.2.
ASSIGNED CAUSES OF DEATH.
In the annual report for 1873 (page 10) the following passage occurs:—
" New Forms for Recording Vital and Mortal Statisties.—The tables in the appendix,
numbered I. to VI., inclusive, have been drawn up by the Society of Medical Officers of Health
for general use throughout the country, and with a view to facilitate comparison between
different districts, and with standard areas. The want of uniformity in statistical returns of
the medical reports had long been felt; I was induced, therefore, to bring the subject
before the society, which, after a most careful consideration, and having obtained the views
of a great many officers of health, settled these forms, which it is hoped will supply all the
information that is absolutely requisite without imposing an undue amount of work on those
who may use them. Should the tables come into general use they cannot fail to invest the
vital statistics in the reports of medical officers with a much greater and more universal
interest than heretofore."