View report page

12
Births.
The total number of births belonging to the Borough of
Battersea during 1908 was 4,629. Of the total births, 2,385
were males and 2,244 females, showing an excess of 141 males.
The number of births was slightly higher (55) than in 1907, but
was 296 below the decennial average 1898-1907, and 646 less than
the number in 1884, when the population was only 121,299. The
births in the sub-districts were as follows: —
Males. Females. Total.
East Battersea 1,080 1,007 2,087
North-West Battersea 825 800 1,625
South-West Battersea 480 437 917
Borough 2,385 2,244 4,629
The birth rate—i.e., the number of births per 1,000 of the
population—was 25.1, exactly the same rate as in 1907, which
was the lowest birth rate ever recorded in Battersea, and is 3.4
below the average for the previous ten years. Whilst it is satisfactory
to note that the decline in the birth rate, which has been
steadily taking place in recent years in the Borough (in common
with the rest of the country, and, in fact, in all civilised countries)
was not maintained at the same rate as in the past five or six
years, the explanation that the birth rate during 1908 was the
same as that in 1907 is accounted for by the fact that the returns
for the former year include an extra week. In reality, therefore,
the birth rate for 1908 is slightly lower than in the previous year.
To those, therefore, who believe that a falling birth rate is a
source of danger to the future of the race, the birth statistics for
1908 are not encouraging.