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their deaths are registered elsewhere than in Chelsea Borough. To a
certain extent this might account for the female death-rate from phthisis
in Chelsea being less than half the male rate. Most of the married
women in the Borough arc engaged in household duties, but a certain
proportion of the female population is engaged as charwomen, and in
workshops and laundries. The industrial work carried on is not of an
unhealthy nature.
There is one common lodging house for women in Chelsea (52 beds)
and four common lodging houses for men (337 beds). About 10 deaths
from phthisis occur annually amongst these common lodging house
inmates, nearly all being males. This will not, however, account to any
extent for the exceptionally high male death-rate from phthisis in
Chelsea.
The death-rate from other tubercular diseases appears to be lower
in Chelsea than in London or in England and Wales, but the certifica
tion of these diseases is a matter of some uncertainty. The low female
death-rate from phthisis in Chelsea, and the relatively low death-rate
from other tubercular diseases, which chiefly affect young children under
5 years of age, is suggestive of another cause for the high male deathrate
from phthisis than overcrowded, or insanitary conditions of the homes
of the working classes, but what is the actual cause or causes of the high
mortality is not apparent. So far as regards the industrial occupations
of Chelsea males, they are probably very much the same as in other
districts of Western London, and are of the most varying character.
Cancer.—Malignant cancerous diseases caused 72 deaths in Chelsea
in 1908, the average of the past 17 years being 73 deaths annually.
Thirty-seven of the cancer deaths were of North Chelsea residents, and
35 of South Chelsea.
Alcoholism.—Twenty-four deaths were registered in 1908 as being
due to intemperance or cirrhosis of the liver, as against 21 in 1907.
These annual figures merely represent the deaths which are palpably and
unmistakeably the results of alcoholic excess, and take no account of the
far larger numbers which are indirectly due to prolonged and excessive
indulgence.
Deaths in Lunatic Asylums.—Forty-three deaths of Chelsea
parishioners occurred in 1908 in lunatic asylums. The average of the
17 years (1891—1907) is 33 deaths annually in lunatic asylums.
Deaths in Public Institutions.—In 1908, 46.4 per cent. of the
total deaths of parishioners of Chelsea occurred in public institutions, as
compared with 47.3 per cent. in 1907. In London generally, 41.9
per cent. of the total deaths occurred in public institutions in 1908. The
deaths in the Chelsea Infirmary in 1908 formed 23.1 per cent. of the
total deaths of Borough residents, as compared with 25.3 per cent. in
1907.
Deaths of Common Lodging House Inmates.—Twenty-six deaths
of common lodging house inmates occurred in Chelsea in 1908, all but 3
taking place in the Chelsea Infirmary. Twenty-three of the deaths