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12
THE BIRTH-RATE.
The number of Births registered in Lambeth during the
year 1897 was 9,388, as compared with 9,592 for the year
1896. Of the total 9,388 births, 4,782 were males, and
4,606 females, showing an excess of 176 males.
The birth-rate for Lambeth is, therefore, 31.3 per 1,000
inhabitants (33.7 for males and 291 for females), as compared
with 30 0 for London (32.2 for males and 27 9 for
females); whilst in the various Registration Sub-Districts
the birth-rates work out as shown in Table A. Tables B
and C shew the number of births, and the birth-rates for the
last 10 years in Lambeth.
It must again be pointed out that the death-rate and
birth-rate must be taken together, as the death-rate per se
gives no reliable information as to the relative healthiness
or otherwise of a particular district. For this reason, in
considering the statistics of the various Registration SubDistricts
of Lambeth, the birth-rates and death-rates are
given side by side, and any deductions drawn are on the
understanding of the importance of this inter-relationship.
In the Inner Wards (where the birth-rates are high) is
this to be especially noted, as the high birth-rates there
cause the high death-rates, owing to the great numbers of
deaths amongst infants and children between 1 and 5 years
of age. Density of population in the Inner Wards leads to
this high infantile mortality, and a persistently high birthrate,
instead of leading to a lower, causes a higher, deathrate,
and points to the insanitary and unhealthy conditions
under which the inhabitants in the Inner Wards of Lambeth
exist, as compared with those in the Outer Wards. This
subject is treated of more fully in dealing with the death
returns (see Special Report in Appendix I., at end), but it
must be remembered that the Lying-in Hospital and the
Workhouse tend to abnormally increase the birth-rates
in Waterloo District and Lambeth Church Second.