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1878, and that the birth.rate was lower than in any one of
the previous six years, being 23.26 as against 23.85 in
1878; the birth.rate in London generally was 36.5, and in
23 large towns 36.2, neither varying much from the rates
in 1878.
The highest birth.rate recorded in the large towns of
the United Kingdom, in 1879, were those of Birmingham
and of Salford, 40.1 in cach case, and the lowest that of
Brighton, 29.8.
The number of deaths of children under one year of
age, was 298, a lower number than in any one of the
previous six years, notwithstanding that there were 53
weeks in the year. The percentage of these deaths to the
total births was, owing to the unusually small number of
births, greater than it was in 1878, although less than in
any year from 1873 to 1877, but, and this is much more
important, the percentage of deaths of infants under one
year of age to the total deaths, was only 14.48, or nearly
one per cent. lower than in 1878, when it was more than 2
per cent. lower than in either of the preceding five years.
This remarkable decrease in infant mortality is one of
the best signs of sanitary improvement, although it must
be remembered at the same time that the birth-rate has
somewhat decreased.