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MORTALITY IN CHILDHOOD. 57
diarrhœa," and 31 (20 of males and 11 of females) from "zymotic enteritis." The deaths from
the causes recorded in the Wards are tabulated below in comparison with the numbers for 1911
and the averages for 1906.10. The Ward mortality rates for the ages 0.2 cannot be given on
this occasion.

In Table 13 (page 18) the rates for diarrhoea (i.e., diarrhoea and enteritis) are based on the
births, although the ages at death ranged from 0.2 years. The figures have been taken from the
Annual Supplement of the Registrar-General. In Table 35 (page 59) the rates are based on the
estimated numbers living at ages 0.2 years, which rates are to be preferred, as giving more exact
measures of the local mortality from the disease. If the ratios of births to population and
of deaths under one to births were constant, mortality rates for children aged under 2 years,
calculated on the numbers of births, would be as useful as rates calculated on the estimated
numbers living at those ages. Rates based on the births involve no preliminary work, which is
distinctly a gain.
The mortality recorded during the year was in each of the Cities and Boroughs-except
the City of London itself-less than the rate for 1911 and the annual average for 1907.11.
In the whole County last year's rate (7.34) was little more than one-quarter of the 1911 rate
(28.57), and just over half the average (14.57). In the Western Districts last year's rate (6.75)
was considerably less than one-quarter of the 1911 rate (28.36), and less than half the average
(15.94). In Paddington the rate for 1911 (8.86) was the second highest of the rates recorded
in the Western Districts, being exceeded only by that of Westminster (10 00). The local rate
(8.86) was under one-third of the 1911 rate (27.56), but more than half the average (14.52).
In the districts immediately adjacent to the Borough the lowest recorded rate (1912) was
that of Hampstead (0.45), less than one.twentieth of the 1911 rate (9 70). The highest rate was
that of Westminster (10.00), as compared with 16.53 in 1911 and an average of 10.78.
In his Report for the third ("summer") quarter of last year the Registrar-General included
a table (Table XVI., page 36) giving the mortality in London from "diarrhoea and enteritis"
at all ages, whereby comparison can be made with previous years. Prior to 1907 the annual
mortality determined from the deaths registered during the summer had never fallen below
1.43 per 1,000 persons of all ages (1879), and had risen as high as 5.43 (1899). In 1911 it
was 4.29, and last year it fell to 0.66, the minimum. In 1907 and 1910 the mortality was also
exceptionally low, viz., 073 and 0.84. The prevalence of "diarrhœa" depends (for some reason
not definitely determined) so closely on weather conditions that the appended tabulation of
"diarrhœal " mortality and certain meteorological elements will he of interest.

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