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12
DEATH-RATE IN ENGLAND AND WALES, AND IN LONDON, AND IN OTHER
LARGE TOWNS.
The death-rate in England and Wales in 1900 was 18.3 per 1,000, the same as in 1899,
but 0.1 below the average rate in the ten years 1890-99. The rate in London, as already stated,
was 18.8 per 1,000, being 0'8 below the decennial average; but by excluding the deaths of
persons ascertained to have been strangers, the death.rate of London is reduced to 18.3 per
1,000.
The subjoined table shows the annual death-rate per 1,000 persons living in each of the
last eleven years, in Kensington, in London, and in England and Wales: —
1900.
1899.
1898.
1897.
1896.
1895.
1894.
1893.
1892.
1891.
1890.
Kensington
15.6
17.5
16.3
15.6
16.7
16.4
15.7
17.5
17.2
18.4
17.8
London
188
19.8
18.7
18.2
18.6
19.8
17.8
21.3
20.6
21.4
21.4
W. Districts
17.6
19.0
17.0
16.1
17.6
18.5
17.1
19.7
20.0
20.8
20.5
North „
16.9
18.1
16.9
16.6
17.1
18 .2
16.3
20.2
19.4
20.0
19.6
Central „
21.5
22.5
22.1
21.8
21.2
23.8
20.0
25.7
23.9
26.5
24.8
East „
22.1
23.0
21.7
21.2
21.3
23.4
20.8
24.9
23.5
24.0
25.1
South „
17.7
18.5
17.7
172
17.5
18.3
16.2
19.5
19.0
19.8
19.6
England and
Wales
18.3
18.3
17.6
17.4
17.1
18.7
16.6
19.2
19.0
20.2
19.5
Greater London.—The death.rate in "Greater London," which is co-extensive with the
Metropolitan and City Police districts, the population in the middle of the year 1900, numbering
6,652,145 (viz., 4,589,129 in inner or Registration London, and 2,063;016 in the Outer Ring),
was 173 per 1,000, as compared with 16.7, 17'2, and 18.3 in the three preceding years respectively.
The deaths properly belonging to the Outer Ring, as distinguished from Inner or
Registration London, were equivalent to a rate of only 140, the rate in the Inner Ring having
been 18.8. The death-rate from the principal diseases of the zymotic class in Inner London,
was 2.21 per 1,000; in the Outer Ring 1.98, the rate in Greater London, as a whole, being
2.14 per 1,000. The infantile mortality of Greater London was 156 per 1,000 births; of Inner
London, 160; of Outer London, 148.
Other Large Towns.—The death-rate in the thirty-three large towns, including London,
and having a population of 11,610,296, was 19.5 per thousand; ranging from 13.8 at Cardiff,
14.6 at Croydon, and 15.9 at West Ham, to 22.5 at Wolverhampton, 25.1 at Salford, and 25.7 at
Liverpool. The death-rates of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin were 19.4, 22'0, and 27.6 per
1,000 respectively. These death-rates are calculated without correction for differences between
one town and another in regard to the age and sex-distribution of their respective populations.
This explanation is necessary because, as the Registrar-General points out, "In consequence of
the great difference between one town and another, with respect to age and sex-constitution of
their several populations, recorded death-rates require correction before they can be justly used
for purposes of comparison." The Registrar-General, as already stated, gives in his annual
summary factors by the use of which the necessary corrections can be made with approximate
accuracy for each town.
Colonial and Foreign Cities.—The death-rate of some of the principal foreign and
colonial cities was as follows—Indian cities: Calcutta, 50.6 per 1,000; Madras, 46.2; and
Bombay, 96'4. European cities: Paris, 20.6 per 1,000; St. Petersburg, 27.0; Moscow, 31.2;
Berlin, 19'0; Vienna, 20.5; Rome, 19.1. American cities: New York, 20.6 per 1,000; Boston,
20.8; Philadelphia, 19.4; and New Orleans, 24.7.
ASSIGNED CAUSES OF DEATH.
In the annual report for 1873 (page 10) the following passage occurs:—
"New Forms for Recording Vital and Mortal Statistics.—The tables in the appendix,
numbered I. to VI., inclusive, have been drawn up by the Society of Medical Officers of Health,
for general use throughout the country, and with a view to facilitate comparison between
different districts and with standard areas. The want of uniformity in statistical returns of
the medical reports had long been felt; I was induced, therefore, to bring the subject
before the society, which, after a most careful consideration, and having obtained the views
of a great many officers of health, settled these forms, which it is hoped will supply all the