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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1871—1872. 5
Besides, experience has taught us that as civilization and population have increased,
so in proportion have the means of existence, and even in a more rapid proportion. And
that in the most densely peopled countries food is " not only absolutely, but even relatively
most abundant.'' Doubtless the individual consumes the same, but then the means of
???roduction increase indefinitely. Many blades of corn grow now where formerly only one
grew ; and far more will be made to grow in the future where the many do now. Famine
has more closely threatened this country when the population was hardly half what it is at
present. A population cannot go beyond the means of .subsistence. The latter restrains
he former.
Whilst then, an increase of population is not to be dreaded; neither is it to be looked
???pon as a sure sign of prosperity. The quality of a race is of far more importance than
he quantity. " 'Tis pedantry to estimate nations by the census or the square miles of
and, or other than by their importance to the mind of the time."
The number of births registered in this District during the year ending 30th March,
1872, was 3,943; of these 1,005 were males, and 938 females. 1,444 deaths were registered;
of which 705 were males, and 739 were females. Whilst more males were born, more
:emales died. The excess of births over deaths was 499. The death rate was 25 in 1000
persons living.

The first Table shows the number of deaths, and the excess of births which have
occurred annually during the last ten years.
From the highest to the lowest death rate in these "years, the deaths have varied to
the number of 388 ; and the excess of births to 458.
The second Table gives the weekly deaths from all causes in the three Sub-districts,
which form the District, with the mean temperature. The deaths have varied in one week
from another to the number of 24. The lowest death rate that has happened in one week
was 17, and the highest 41.
It Will be found upon examining this Table that with a decrease of temperature, an
increase of the death-rate takes place. Thus in the 50th week there were 41 deaths with a
temperature ranging in the previous weeks about 35°.