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iv
and referable to Southwark, are sent into our Borough when sicknees
lays hold of them with fatal results. Further, there are those
who, often of nomadic habits, have had no fixed dwelling in
Camberwell, but who have lived first in one lodging-house and then
in another, and who, when admitted to any of the institutions, can
only say they came from Camberwell. Further provision has to be
made, and the only reasonable way seems to make a pro rata
distribution of such deaths among the different districts in proportion
to the mortality actually recorded therein, this re-allotment
being shown in Table D.
As a result of the calculations it will be seen that the death-rate
stands at the remarkably low figure of 13.1 per 1,000 for the year.
The Registrar-General's reckoning brings it out even less, but as
this is due to his estimate of the population being higher than ours,
I am inclined to think that our own calculation is the more accurate.
As this is the age of records, it is perhaps interesting to note
that the death-rate for this year comes within the purview of that
definition, the nearest approach being 13.8 for 1903 and for 1905;
it will also be seen that the decline referred to last year has continued
its march. Whether we have reached the minimum can
hardly be stated, but at the present low figure a further reduction
becomes more and more improbable.
The lessening is shown in all districts, but especially in North
Camberwell, Dulwich, and St. George's. The decrease in the last
districts being so much greater than any other would almost
suggest the existence of some special factor.