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13
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 1908 was
19.0 per 1,000 of the population, the death rate 13.0. There were considerable fluctuations in the
death-rate at the different periods, ranging between the minimum (8.7) in the eighth, ended August
8th, and the maximum (18.7) in the first, ended January 25th. The rate in six periods was
above, and in seven below the average for the year. The deaths in the two halves were 1,316
and 1,082 respectively. The deaths from the principal diseases of the zymotic class were 167 : 13
fewer than in 1907, and 108 below the decennial average: 56occurred in the first half of the year
and 111 in the second. The deaths from diseases of the respiratory organs were 458, and 62 fewer
than in 1907. Diseases of the heart were accountable for 269 deaths, compared with 233 in 1907 ;
and phthisis for 181, as compared with 174. Other tubercular diseases claimed 80 victims, against
90 in the preceding year.
COMPARATIVE VITAL AND MORTAL STATISTICS.
London.—The birth-rate, 25'2 per 1,000 (2-9 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 adjusted death-rate was 13.8 per 1,000 (also the lowest on record), and 3T 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 in 1906, 1907 and 1908.
Scarlet-fever was the cause of 548 deaths, compared with 644 in 1907, and a decennial average
of 514.
Diphtheria was the cause of 724 deaths ; 57 fewer than in 1907, and 472 below the decennial
average.
Enteric-fever was the cause of 225 deaths, 31 more than in 1907, but less than half the
decennial average.
The four diseases above-named, commonly spoken of as the " dangerous infectious
diseases," were the causes of 1,499 deaths : the deaths from the other three principal diseases of
the zymotic class totalled 5,100, being (after correction for the 53rd week) 2,782 below the decennial
average; viz., measles 1,524 (average 2,213), whooping-cough 984 (average 1,772), and diarrhoea
2,592 (average 3,800).
Kensington.—The birth-rate, 19.0 per 1,000, and the lowest on record, was T4 below the
decennial average. Having regard to the disproportion in the number of the sexes, a high birth-rate
is not possible.
The death-rate, 13.0 per 1,000 and the lowest on record was 0.7 below that in 1907,
and 1.9 below the decennial average. The infantile mortality-rate, measured by the proportion
of deaths under one year to 1,000 registered births, was 122 ; a decrease of 4 per 1,000, compared
with the rate in 1907.
Scarlet-fever was the cause of 9 deaths, diphtheria of 26, and enteric-fever of 5; total 40 in a
population of 181,000; a surprisingly small number. The deaths from these diseases were
respectively, 5 below, 1 above and 7 below the decennial averages. The deaths from the remaining
three of the principal diseases of the zymotic class were 127: viz., measles 32 (average 69),
whooping-cough 7 (average 51), and diarrhoea 88 (average 102).
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 50'0° Fahrenheit and
0'3 above the means of the preceding 50 years,—the means of the four quarters being 39'5, 53.8
60.3 and 4.6 respectively.