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26
CAUSES OF DEATH.
The greatest reduction from the expected averages occurred in Group I., amounting for each
sex to 62 per cent. The differences in the case of Group III. are for each sex 50 per cent. There is
a notable contrast in the differences in Group II. (Diarrhœal Diseases), that for males being only 17
per cent., while that for females is 43 per cent. In one instance only, Other Causes, Females, is the
observed average (9 deaths) in excess of the expected (7), the difference being equal to an increase of
28 per cent.
At Ages 1-5 Years.—In Table 14 (a modified form of Table 13), the deaths at each of the four
years forming the group 1-5 during 1923 are compared with the corresponding annual averages for
1918-22. Although the "populations"—meaning the survivors—are greater at each age in 1923
than the mean populations for 1918-22 the deaths recorded last year were fewer than the averages,
except those due to diphtheria and accidents.
The table here annexed continues the comparison of the averages for 1909-13 and 1919-23, the
"C" columns indicating the expected averages for the second quinquennium based on the experience
of the first, the differences between the "B" and the "C" columns showing the "savings" in life,
on an average, during each year of the second period.

A—Averages 1909-13. B—Averages 1919-23. C—Expected averages 1919-23.
Mortality in Special Areas.—(Tables 15 and 16).—Of the 6 Areas selected for special
examination of the changes in infantile mortality, increased rates were recorded last year in 3, and
they were also in excess of the means for 1918-22. The Areas with increased rates were: "North
Wharf," 95 in 1923, 41 in 1922, Mean 87; "Amberley Road," 115 in 1923, 91 in 1922, Mean 89;
and "Queen's Park," 94 in 1923, 60 in 1922, Mean 66. Special attention should be directed to the
reductions in rates in "Clarendon Street" and "Alfred Road."
If the data from the Special Areas be excluded from the records of the Wards in which such Areas
are situated, last year's rates for the "Rest of the Wards" are found to be higher than those for 1922
in 3 of the 4 Wards (Table 15). If the 6 Areas be excluded from the figures for the Borough, the
rate for "Rest of the Borough" is 67, as compared with 58 in 1922, the total rate for the six Areas
(74) being below that for 1922 (96).
The rates of mortality at ages under 3 months (Table 16) in the 6 Areas were less than the
rates in the "Rest of the Borough," both in 1923 and during 1918-22. On the other hand, the rates
at 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months during the past year in the 6 Areas were all above the rates for the "Rest
of the Borough," as also were the means.
Of the mortality rates from the diseases mentioned in Table 16 those observed in the Areas
from whooping cough, diarrhoea and the respiratory diseases are notably in excess of the corresponding
rates in the "Rest of the Borough," while those due to causes of ante-natal and natal origins (premature
birth, etc.) are in defect. Without labouring the question, it may be said that the general
trend of the comparisons of the rates in the two sub-divisions of the Borough, suggests that infants
born in the Special Areas are quite as vigorous as those born in other parts of the Borough, but such
infants succumb, after the third month of life, from the effects of their environment. It is, therefore,
satisfactory to note that the total rate for 1923 (73.56) was nearly 27 per cent. less than the mean
(100.3), the rate in the "Rest of the Borough" (66.78) being 19 per cent. less than the mean (82.46).
Mortality of Illegitimate Children.—The corrected number of deaths during the year was
33, 25 (males 15, females 10) at ages under one year and 8 (males 5, females 3) at ages 1-5 years. The
infantile mortality rate (per 1,000 illegitimate births) was : Total, 118; males, 128; females, 105;