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It is not obvious why the average death-rates from all causes and
respiratory diseases should be so high, very little short of District No. 3,
where there are obviously insanitary conditions present. The individual
rates from all causes for each year from 1901 are 21.7, 28.5, 19.0, and
231 per 1,000. The exceptionally high rate for 1902 contributes
largely to this high average.
The 1904 rate, 23.1, is identical with the average for the four years,
so that conditions here cannot be said to be improving. In Page Street
a few houses have been pulled down, and the number of deaths has
been greatly reduced (none in 1904), but in Johnson Street the deaths
remain at a high level. The mortality in Horseferry Road also contributes
largely to the total, and especially in respiratory diseases and
all tubercular diseases, which together constitute 11 out of 24 deaths
for the period of four years.
The demolition of property in this area has been on so small a scale
that the death-rate is not likely to have been much affected by displacement
of population. What seems more probable is that the extensive
house closure in the immediately adjacent area has resulted in an influx
of population, and that there is scope for inquiry as to overcrowding,
which may have had some influence in the direction of increased
mortality. The fact that this is one of the few districts in the Ward
which contain an open space, St. Mary's Becreation Ground, should tell
in the direction of lowered death-rates.
District No. 5.—This district includes Great Peter Street, Chadwick
Street, Monck Street, part of Marsham Street, Medway Street, Arneway
Street, Laundry Yard, Blue Anchor Court, part of Horseferry Road,
Anne's place, Bull's Head Court, and Monck Court.
By deducting the common lodging house inmates (461) from the
census estimate of 2,379, a population of 1,918 is arrived at. In spite
of a population of young adults at the Westminster Training College,
which should tend to lower the average mortality, the rates for all the
selected causes are by far the highest in the whole ward. Within this
district are three streets of small shops, of which some in Great Peter