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8
[1906
REPORT
OF THE
Medical Officer of Health
FOR THE YEAR 1906.
There are three factors which must be accurately determined, and fully
considered, when discussing the vital statistics, or to be quite accurate, the
statistics relating to mortality, of any community, before a correct interpretation
of their significance can be formed by the inquirers after truth. This is
especially essential if he should desire to contrast the returns of one County,
City, or district with those of another; it is even more necessary in London,
where the mortality of a district is so frequently gauged by a comparison
with that of the metropolis as a whole, or with specially selected Boroughs
within the County. In this connection there are three factors of importance
to be considered: namely, Area, Population and Density.
The Area at first sight may not seem of so much consequence as either of
the other factors, but after a little consideration it will be apparent that it is
of great moment to know how it is divided, how much of it is open space or
lake, river or park, and how much is built upon.
It will be necessary to know respecting the Population how its ages are
cast; the relative proportions of infants, children, youths, middle-aged, and old
persons, for as the mortality rates vary at different ages, so will differences
in the way that the population is cast be important, because they will affect
the number of deaths.
With respect to Density, which in this respect signifies the number of
persons located in houses on each acre, it is apparent that a population which
is crowded together on a limited space is not so likely to be equally healthy
with one that has more room to breathe. We will, therefore, proceed to examine
B 2