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DEATHS.
17
Corrected Figures.— I he death returns received by the Department undergo a double correction.
1 he first is made weekly, and consists in deducting the deaths of non-residents recorded in
the Borough and adding, from returns received each week from Somerset House, the deaths of
residents of the Borough dying in other parts of London and certain of the districts lying
immediately outside thereof. Such corrections have been made for many years. During the last
two years the Registrar-General has forwarded at the close of each quarter particulars of the deaths
of residents recorded in other parts of England and Wales. Such deaths have been included in the
annual total, but not in the corrected figures for each week and quarter. The new arrangement
has involved a slight increase in the mortality for the whole year as compared with the rates prior to
1911, but the matter will adjust itself in the course of three or four years. In any case, the
change is an improvement and to be welcomed.
The appended statement of corrected quarterly rates should be considered in connection
with what has been written in the last paragraph. The rates are as strictly comparable as they
can be made. It will be seen that in each of the four quarters of last year the mortality rate was
less than the corresponding rate for 1911, and also than the average for 1907-11.

In referring to the corrected mortality rate for the year, it will be well for the moment to
ignore the transferred deaths received from the Registrar-General. Without such transfers, the
total number of deaths of residents was 1,737, equivalent to a mortality rate of 12.20 per 1,000.
That total was 58 less than the lowest previously recorded (1,790 in 1910), 148 less than
the total for 1911 (1,885), and 174 less than the annual average for 1907-11. (See Table I.,
Appendix A.) The mortality rate, which was 14.72 in 1902, has fallen to the extent of 2.52 per
1,000 during the eleven years.
When the "transferred deaths" are included, the total for last year becomes 1,771 and the
mortality rate 12.44, the deaths being fewer by 155 than in 1911 and the mortality 1.07 lower.
In Table II., Appendix A, the corrected numbers of deaths belonging to the individual Wards
will be found. It will be seen that the totals for last year were below the averages for 1907-11
in all the Wards except Lancaster Gate (West and East).
In Table 11 (page 18) the mortality rates (persons all ages) for the Wards will be found, and the
numbers of deaths of each sex recorded during the three years 1910-12. Last year's mortality
exceeded that for 1911 in the following Wards—Church (1912, 16.83; 1911, 16.35), Lancaster
Gate, West (1912, 8.12; 1911, 6.98), and Hyde Park (1912, 10.51; 1911, 9.95). In comparison
with the mean rates excesses have to be recorded in Lancaster Gate, West (1912, 8.12; mean,
7T4) and Lancaster Gate, East, Ward (1912, 7.98; mean, 740).
Table 12 (page 18) gives the numbers of deaths in each of six age-groups during the past six
years, distinguishing the sexes. The deaths of males were in each age-group fewer last year than in
1911, and, with the exception of the age-group 0-1, last year's figures compare very favourably
with any for the preceding five years. The deaths of females in the three first age-groups (0-1,
1-5, and 5-15) were all lower than in any of the preceding five years, while those at the higher
ages compare very favourably.
It appears from the rates given in Table 13 (page 18) that the local mortality rate was 1.22
per 1,000 below that for the Metropolis, and that the rates recorded in Hampstead (9.79) and
Willesden (10.03) were the only two below it. In Hampstead only was last years rate (9.79)
above the mean rate for 1907-11 (9.63).
D