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SUMMARY OF VITAL AND MORTAL STATISTICS.
In the table at page 14, the principal statistics have been arranged in thirteen four-weekly
periods corresponding to the dates of the monthly reports. The annual birth-rate in 1907 was
19.0 per 1,000 of the population, the death rate 13.7. There were considerable fluctuations in the
death-rate at the different periods, ranging between the minimum (9.7) in the ninth, ended September
7th, and the maximum (19.7) in the second, ended February 23rd. The rate in six periods was
above, and in seven below the average for the year. The deaths in the two halves were 1,399
and 1,072 respectively. The deaths from the principal diseases of the zymotic class were 180: 98
fewer than in 1906, and 110 below the decennial average: 106 occurred in the first half of the year
and 74 in the second. Whooping-cough was the prevalent and most fatal disease in the first
half, 70 of the total deaths (81) having been registered therein. The deaths from diseases of the
respiratory organs were 520, and 62 more than in 1906. Diseases of the heart were accountable for
233 deaths, compared with 220 in 1906; and phthisis for 174, as compared with 214. Other tubercular
diseases claimed 90 victims, against 85 in the preceding year.
COMPARATIVE VITAL AND MORTAL STATISTICS.
London.—The birth-rate, 23.8 per 1,000 (2.8 below the decennial average), was the lowest
on record. The rate has been declining for many years, never having been below 30 per 1,000 prior
to 1898: the highest rate during my tenure of office, 35-9 per 1,000, was recorded in 1876.
The adjusted death-rate was 14.6 per 1,000, and 2.7 below the average of the preceding ten
years.
Small-pox, the cause of 1,300, 13, 25, and 10 deaths, respectively, in 1902, 1903, 1904, and
1905, was unattended by fatality both in 1906 and in 1907.
Scarlet-fever was the cause of 644 deaths, compared with 533 in 1906, and a decennial average
of 532.
Diphtheria was the cause of 781 deaths; 90 more than in 1906, and 545 below the decennial
average.
Enteric-fever was the cause of 194 deaths, 66 less than in 1906, but less than half the
decennial average.
The four diseases above-named, commonly spoken of as the "dangerous infectious
diseases," were the causes of 1,619 deaths: the deaths from the other three principal diseases of
the zymotic class totalled 5,153, being 2,905 below the decennial average; viz., measles 1,810
(average 2,209), whooping-cough 1,800 (average 1,772), and diarrhoea 1,543 (average 4,077).
Kensington.—The birth-rate, 19'0 per 1,000, and the lowest on record, was 0.1 below the
rate in 1906, and 1'7 below the decennial average. Having regard to the disproportion in the
number of the sexes, a high birth-rate is not possible; but the fall from the maximum during my
tenure of office, viz., 31.7 in 1872, is abnormally great.
The death-rate, 13.7 per 1,000; was 0.2 below that in 1906, and 1.4 below the decennial
average. The infantile mortality-rate, measured by the proportion of deaths under one year to
1,000 registered births, was 126; a decrease of 6 per 1,000, compared with the rate in 1906.
Scarlet-fever was the cause of 9 deaths, diphtheria of 24, and enteric-fever of 5; total 38 in a
population of 180,500; a surprisingly small number. The deaths from these diseases were 7,
7, and 9, respectively, below the decennial averages. The deaths from the remaining
three of the principal diseases of the zymotic class were 142: viz., measles 31 (average 70),
whooping-cough 81 (average 45), and diarrhœa 30 (average 112).
The table at page 19 shows the number of deaths in the several Wards from the principal
diseases of the zymotic class.
The mean temperature of the air at Greenwich during the year was 49.8° Fahrenheit and
0.3 above the means of the preceding 50 years,—the means of the four quarters being 39.7, 52.8,
60.1 and 46.6 respectively.