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8
conditions in each instance improved under the supervision of the
Health Visitor (Mrs. Watkinson) and it has not been necessary to take
more serious measures. In addition to the Army allowance, each
woman is receiving half pay from the Council.
The families of soldiers who had married "off the strength" have
derived much benefit from the grants made by the War Office. There
are a number of such in Westminster and it was a struggle to keep the
home going on the small amount which a soldier could spare from
his pay. Since the receipt of the weekly war allowance it has been
observed that the children are better fed and clothed and generally the
home conditions have materially improved.
Deaths.
1,971 deaths were registered in the City in the 52 weeks ending the
2nd January, 1915. After deducting 958 deaths of non-citizens in
public institutions in the City, and adding those of 933 citizens who died
in other districts, the corrected total is 1,946, and is equivalent to an
annual rate of 12.7 per 1,000 persons, the same as the preceding year.
The average death-rate for the ten years 1904-13, was 12.8 per 1,000.
The London death-rate for 1914 was 14.4, the average for the
previous five years being 141. For England and Wales the rate
was 13.6.
Tables appended to this part of the Report show the vital statistics
of the City and five groups of districts from 1892 to 1914.

Distribution according to Wards and the locality at time of death
are shown in Table III.
There were 10 deaths in hotels of persons who came from abroad
whose deaths have to be included in Westminster. Before 1911 such
deaths were excluded.
Cause of Death at all Ages.—These are set forth in Table I, and
also their distribution in the various Wards of the City.
Deaths in 1914 were lower than in 1913, from influenza, cancer and
old age. The causes showing a marked increase were scarlet fever,