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tions in former reports, which, in the absence of any means of accurately
ascertaining the true number of inhabitants, were based upon an
estimated population, and gave for the past five years a mean annual
death-rate of 17.70 per 1000.
The rate of mortality in the various districts of England varies from
15 to 36 per 1000. According to the scale of health based upon this
fact, as determined by Dr. Farr in the Registrar General's Reports, 17
per 1000 is assumed as the number, above which all deaths are in excess
of what are natural. The foregoing death-rate of this parish, therefore,
is less than 1 per 1000 above the zero of the health scale. It is inclusive
also of the cholera year, 1854, exclusive of that year 17.07 per 1000
would be the rate.
The deaths registered during the year 1860 numbered 308 ; 180 were of
males, and 128 of females. 121 of these occurred in the County
Lunatic Asylum. The deaths of Wandsworth ptrishioners in the
workhouse were 13. According to these data, after due correction, the
death-rate of the past year was 16.10 per 1000 persons living, or 1 per
1000 (nearly) less than the zero of the Registrar-General's health scale,
or about 1 per 1000 only greater than that of the healthiest districts of
England.
Population—Rate of Increase—By Birth—By Immigration.
The population in this parish in 1831 was 6,870; in 1841, 7614; in
1851, 9611; and at the recent census it numbered 13,346—6133 males,
and 7213 females. During the ten years 1831—41 it increased, therefore,
at the rate of rather more than 10 per 1000 yearly ; and during the
similar period, 1841—51, at the rate of 26 per 1000 yearly. During
the past ten years its progress has been at the rate of upwards of 38
per 1000 yearly, two-fifths of which were due to natural increase, and
the other three fifths to immigration. The great increase which has
taken place in both of these ways presents a most favourable indication
of the sanitary, as well as of the social and industrial developments of
the town.
The excess of females over males in this parish, as shewn by the
census, is somewhat remarkable.
The total number of births registered during the past year was 391,
195 males and 196 females. The average number during the past ten
years was 336, The birth rate for the past year was 31.41 per 1000;
the rate of natural increase 15.31 per 1000.
The number of inhabited houses in the parish in 1851 was 1522, and
the number of persons to each house averaged rather more than 6. The
number of inhabited houses is uow 1891, and the average number of
persons to each house rather more than 7. So that with the advantages
of a greatly increasing neighbourhood we are beginning to experience
one of its disadvantages—crowding—which, in a sanitary point of view,
is of the greatest importance, and indicates the necessity for carrying
out, to their fullest extent, the provisions of the Metropolis Local
Management Act for improving the sanitary condition of houses, in