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notification of births.
Notification of Births.—There being no system of transferring notifications the figures now to
be given refer exclusively to births which take place within the Borough.
Last year 2,621 notifications were received, 50 of which were duplicates. In 1921 the effective
notifications numbered 2,671, and in 1922, 2,571, so that there was a reduction last year of 4 percent.,
exactly the same proportion as that which occurred in the births registered within the Borough.
The duty of notifying a birth rests primarily on the father, if he be in residence in the house where,
and when, the birth takes places. It is remarkable that the proportion of notifications received from
parents has not only been very small (5.7 per cent. during the past year), but that the proportion
shows every sign of becoming less. During 1914.18 the proportion of such notifications was 12.0
per cent., falling during the succeeding years to 6.6 (1919), 7.0 (1920), 6.1 (1921) and 5.7 in 1922.
Parents are liable for the notification of an infectious disease, a liability which is practically ignored,
but no one thinks of taking steps for recovery of the prescribed penalties—unless there be some
very exceptional circumstance attaching to the case. It appears probable that notification of births
by parents will ultimately become practically "dead," as has the notification of infectious disease.
Notification by the medical practitioner constituted approximately one.third (37.4 per cent.)
of the total notifications last year—33.9 in 1921—those by midwives in the neighbourhood of one.half
(43.9 per cent. 1922, 42.7 1921). The most notable change is the increase in the percentage of notifications
received from other sources, which was only 5.2 per cent. of all notifications during 1914.18,
and was 13.0 per cent. last year, as compared with 17.2 in 1921.
On an average notification of a birth precedes its registration by some 4.6 weeks, and the discovery
of failure to notify requires careful comparison between the Returns received from the Registrars
and the Notification Register. Last year 83 births were registered within the Borough without
previous notification, equal to a 3.2 percentage of failure to notify." During 1914.18 the percentage
was 3.7, with a maximum of 5.3 (1917) and a minimum of 2.8 (1916), while in 1919 the figure stood
at 3.0, in 1920, at 3.3, and in 1921 at 3.8. The percentages of births registered after notification
in each of the three Registration Sub.Districts remain fairly constant, being 97 (with slight variations)
in "North." and "Central," and 90 to 92 (the figure for 1922) in "South." It is worth noting that
letters sent to the persons held in each instance to be responsible for the failure to notify, have brought
to light during the past year some evidence of loss of the post.cards (the official form of notification)
in the course of transit by post.
Still.Births.—The number of infants notified as still.born during the past year was 59 (all legitimate
children), as compared with 80 during 1921. The percentage of still.births to all births notified
was 2.3, 0.6 less than in 1921. The following percentages have been recorded during the last four
years: Legitimate, 1919, 2.26; 1920, 3.00; 1921, 3.00; 1922, 2.32; Illegitimate, 1919, 5.48;
1920, 7.69; 1921, 2.99; 1922, nil.
The highest percentage of still.births (2.94) was recorded in Queen's Park Ward last year, and
the lowest (nil) in Lancaster Gate, West. During the three years 1919.21 the highest average was
recorded in Westbourne Ward (3.49), and the lowest (1.51) in Harrow Road. Comparing the averages
with the records for last year, but neglecting the figures for the two Lancaster Gate Wards (where
the numbers are so small that the variations cannot be compared with those in other Wards), the
greatest increase is noted in Queen's Park Ward (65 per cent.), and the greatest decrease in Maida
Yale (33 per cent.).
In addition to the still.births notified, 40 infants died before registration of their births was
effected, equivalent to 1.5 per cent. of all notifications of live.births, a figure which compares favourably
with those recorded in the three previous years (range from 2.6.2.9 per cent.). Among those
40 deaths were 4 of illegitimate infants, or 14.2 . of all notifications of births of this category.
The percentages recorded during 1919.21 ranged from 11.6 to 30.0.
IV. DEATHS: MORTALITY.
(See Tables /., II., VI. and VII. Appendix.)
Registered Locally.—Last year 2,557 deaths were registered within the Borough, 145 (8 per cent.)
more than in 1921. During the five years, 1909.13, the annual average was 2,038, last year's total
showing an increase of 25 per cent. above the average.*
Corrected Number.—The finally adjusted total for the year was 1,888 or 130 (7 . increase)
above that for 1921 (1,758). The annual average for 1909.13 was 1,887, differing by one only from
last year's total. The total mortality was at the rate of 12.99 per 1,000 persons of all ages, 0.92
more than the rate for 1921 (12.07) and 0.20 below the mean (13.19) for 1909.13. The fall in the rate
for 1922 was equivalent to 2 . of the mean for 1909.13.
* It may be noted here that the deaths in the local institutions during 1922 (903) were 42 . above
the annual average (633) for the years 1909.13.