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— 5 —
VITAL STATISTICS.
Tables of figures showing the chief features of the vital
statistics of the Borough of Hornsey will be found at the end
of this Report. These tables of statistical matter, although
they are not always interesting in the reading, are to be considered
as comparable to an annual balance-sheet. They show
the work done by the Health Department during the year, and
enable us to contrast the conditions of to-day with those of
previous years.
Population.—The population of the Borough, estimated by
the Registrar-General's method, was 88,007 in 1922. As I
pointed out in my last Report, the taking of the Census in Midsummer,
1921, decreased our population figure, as many of our
inhabitants were away in the country or at the seaside. The
estimate of the present-day population, given above, which is
worked out from the Census figures, is probably therefore an
under-estimation. We shall not be able to arrive with accuracy
at the figure of our ordinary population until the census is taken
at a time when people are at home and not on holidays.
Age and Sex Distribution (See Tables M. and N.).—A most
instructive series of figures will be found in Table M. at the
end of this Report. This table shows the numbers of persons
of different ages who were in Hornsey on the last three occasions
when the census was taken, namely, in 1901, 1911 and 1921.
From these census figures it will readily be seen that we have
now a greater proportion than formerly of elderly people in the
Borough. In 1901 only nine per cent, of the inhabitants were
over fifty-five years of age; but in 1921 more than sixteen per
cent, were over fifty-five. Although people suffer from sickness
and mortality at earlier ages, it is from fifty-five and onwards
that the amount of disease and death increases rapidly. The
years above fifty-five may well be spoken of as " dangerous
ages." Whereas in the year 1921 the death-rate per thousand
of Hornsey inhabitants aged less than 45 was only 4'3, that of
those from 45-65 was 12.3 per thousand living, and persons over
65 years of age had a death-rate of 72.5 per thousand. To-day
we have in our Borough nearly eight thousand more elderly