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13
THE BIRTH-RATE.
The number of Births registered in Lambeth during the
year 1896 was 9,592, as compared with 9,841 for the year
1895. Of the total 9,592 births, 4,944 were males, and
4,648 females, showing an excess of 296 males.
The birth-rate for Lambeth is, therefore, 32.4 per 1000
inhabitants (35.3 for males and 29.8 for females), as campared
with 30.7 for London (33.3 for males and 28.4 for
females); whilst in the various Registration Sub-Districts
the birth-rates work out as shewn in Table A. Tables B
and C shew the number of births, and the birth-rates for the
last 10 years in Lambeth.
The death-rate and birth-rate must be taken together, as
the death-rate per se gives no reliable information as to
the relative healthiness or otherwise of a particular district.
For this reason, in considering the statistics of the various
Registration Sub-Districts of Lambeth, I have given their
birth-rates and death-rates side by side, so that any deductions
that are drawn are on the understanding of the
importance of their inter-relationship.
It will be noted that the Inner Wards have a higher
average birth-rate than the Outer Wards (even after allowing
for the Lying-in Hospital and Workhouse in Waterloo Road,
2nd, and Lambeth Church, 2nd, respectively), and this,
no doubt, affects the death-rate by altering the age constitution
of the population, and giving rise to a large
proportion of persons under 5 years, amongst whom there
is always a heavy death-rate. These facts must be kept in
mind in considering the relative mortality of the Inner as
compared with the Outer Districts.