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54 MORTALITY IN CHILDHOOD.
since 1905. In Table 33 the corrected rates for 1912 are compared with the average rates for
1907.11. In each of the first three quarters of the year the 1912 rate was below the average,
notably so in the third quarter (rate 1912, 82; average 116-reduction 293 per cent.). In the
fourth quarter last year's rate (141) exceeded the average (126) by 11 per cent. The Ward rates
varied in an irregular manner, but too much significance should not be attached to the rates
recorded in the Lancaster Gate Wards, where, owing to the very small numbers of births
recorded, unit changes in the numbers of deaths at ages under one produce violent changes
in the mortality.
In the third quarter the mortality in Church Ward (198; average, 138) was the only
exception to the general rule of reduced mortality.
The fully corrected rate cannot be determined except at the close of the year, when the
"transfers," births and deaths, are received from the Registrar-General. Such "transfers" were
first received at the end of 1911. Previous to that year the Department made inquiries in outlying
institutions with reference to births belonging to the Borough. Such inquiries were, of
course, limited to the Metropolis, whereas the "transferred" births and deaths forwarded by the
Registrar-General are drawn from all parts of England and Wales. Complete particulars of
the transferred births were obtained last year for the first time.
The fully corrected number of births recorded last year was 2,991, and of deaths under one
year, 295, which figures give a mortality rate of 99, as compared with one of 129 in 1911, and
an average of 109. It will be seen from Table 33 that the reduction in mortality (compared
with the average for 1907.11) was considerably greater among females (rate, 1912, 78; average,
97-reduction, 19'5 per cent.) than among males (rate, 1912, 118; average, 120-reduction, 17 per
cent.). In comparison with 1911 the reductions in mortality were, for males from 140 to 118
(a fall of 15.7 per cent.), and for females from 119 to 78 (a fall of 34 5 per cent.). In Lancaster
Gate, West, Ward the mortality (persons) exceeded the average, while the male mortality recorded
last year exceeded the averages in five Wards, and the females in one (Lancaster Gate, East).
In Table 13 two infantile mortality rates for London and the districts adjacent to the Borough
are given, the one the "nett" rate being obtained in the Department from the numbers of births
and deaths published in the Quarterly Reports of the Registrar-General, the other the
"corrected," from the Annual Summary issued by that Officer, advance proofs of some of the
tables therefrom having been circulated while this report was in preparation. The corrected
rates are believed to be the lowest on record, certainly so in the case of the Metropolis. The
Paddington rate for last year exceeded all the other 1912 rates given in the Table.

* Calculated on corrected numbers of deaths (weekly returns) and births corrected by exclusion of non-residents only.
† Calculated on fully corrected births and deaths.