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inquests.
Comparing the mean mortality rates in the Wards for the periods 1910.12 and 1920.22 it is found
that in Maida Vale Ward alone is any decrease in mortality found—males 18 . less, females, 4.
In every other Ward increases have to be recorded in the case of males ranging from 67 per cent.
(Westbourne) to 2 (Harrow Road), and in the case of females, from 70 (Lancaster Gate, West) to 2
(Harrow Road).
The highest Ward rate for males during 1922 (2.33 per 1,000) was recorded in Westbourne, and
the lowest (0.97) in Lancaster Gate, West. The highest rate among females (2.17) was recorded in
Lancaster Gate, West, and the lowest (0.72) in Queen's Park.
During 1917-21, 20.4 per cent. of the deaths were returned as due to such vague causes as "cancer"
and "malignant disease." During 1922 the proportion fell to 7.8, the reduction being particularly
large (from 17 to 4 per cent.) in the case of males. Among deaths of females the reduction
was from 23 to 11 per cent.
VII. INQUESTS.
During the past year 188 deaths were registered after Coroner's Inquisition, 104 of the deceased
persons being males and 84 females. The annual averages for the years 1909.13 (the last five years
before hostilities affected the frequency of inquests) were—Total inquests, 158, on deaths of males, 91,
and on those of females, 67. During the quinquennium 8.4 per cent. of the corrected total of deaths
were registered after inquest, and in 1922, 9.9 per cent., an increase of 18 per cent.
The findings at the inquests held last year were : Natural Causes, 86; Misadventure, 6; Accidental
Causes, 52; Suicide, 32; Murder, 1; Open, 10; and Neglect, 1. The average numbers for
1909.13—in the same order—were 74, 10, 46, 15, 2, 5 and 6. It will be seen that there were reductions
in the numbers of deaths attributed during the past year to Misadventure and Neglect. The greatest
increase was in the number of deaths from Suicide, viz., from an average of 15 to 32. Last year there
were 20 deaths of males aged 25.65 years from this cause, as compared with an average of 7 during
1909-13, the deaths of females increasing from an average of 5 to 6 last year. At ages of 65 and upwards
there were 3 deaths of males and 2 of females, the averages being 2 and "0."
In connexion with deaths by suicide the frequency of the use of coal gas to end life has attracted
much attention during the year. Prior to 1919 deaths through the misuse of gas were rare, only 15 such
deaths being recorded during the ten years 1909.18. In 1919 suicide by gas was effected by 5 persons,
in 1920 by 3, in 1921 by 8 and in 1922 by 14. Last year's total was seven times the annual average
(2) for 1909.13.
In February of last year a request was received from the Minister of Health for a report on a death
due to coal gas, which had formed the subject of inquest in the preceding month. Since then reports
have been furnished regularly on all deaths attributed to coal gas. The Coroner sends notice of a
pending inquest on such case, and either the Medical Officer of Health or the Chief Inspector attends
the Inquest and completes the official form to which are appended a plan of the room in which the
death took place and a press report of the inquest. During the past year 13 such reports were forwarded,
one copy to the Minister of Health, and a second to the Board of Trade.
The deaths from traffic accidents last year numbered 14, one less than the annual average for 1909.
13. The deaths from road traffic numbered 13, average 14, 8 being caused by motor traffic, average
10, and 5 by horse, average 5.
One death, of an infant, was found to be due to overlying in bed, the average for 1909.13 being 4.
VIII. DEATHS IN INSTITUTIONS.
Of the deaths registered within the Borough during the year, 903 (46.8 per cent.) occurred in the
local Institutions, viz., 546 in the Paddington Hospital, 273 in St. Mary's Hospital, 69 in the Children's
Hospital, 13 in the Hospital for Women and Children (formerly " The Lock ") and 2 in the Roll of
Honour Hospital for Children (closed at the end of June last). During 1912.16 the annual average
of deaths in those institutions was 852, and that during the following five years 686. The increase in
the number of deaths in local institutions has been due to the expansion of the work of the Paddington
Hospital in which 275 deaths took place in 1912, compared with 546 last year.
The deaths of residents in out.lying institutions numbered 233 (71.9 . of all inward
transfers) compared with averages of 253 during 1912-16 and 408 during 1917-21, the increase in the
latter figure being due to the transfer of the work of the (late) Paddington Infirmary to that of St.
Marylebone, while the former was used as a Military Hospital.
The corrected total of deaths during 1922 in all institutions was 845 (430 of males and 415 of
females) equivalent to 44.7 per cent. of the corrected total of deaths from all causes. During 1917.21,