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possible for some other metropolitan districts, still does
not apply to exceptional Battersea—for this reason,
Battersea has ever been made to present a very
conspicious death-rate, and to gain considerable opprobrium
as an unhealthy parish, which it does not altogether
deserve ; therefore, I trust this fact will not be lost sight
of whilst perusing the following report which I have the
pleasure to submit to the Board, and which shows such
different results from those usually placed to the account
of Battersea as a whole.
The population of the Western District of Battersea in
April, 1871, was 26,572. The increase for the whole
parish in the previous ten years was 34,388. This then
is the number (with a due allowance to East Battersea)
on which to calculate the increase for the past year, in
order to get the mean population of 1872, which will give
to this District at that period, the month of June, 28,693
souls.
Mortality.—The total number of Deaths registered were
644; 322 being Males, and 322 Females. Of these 644
deaths, 155 took place in the Workhouse Infirmary;
deducting these, it will leave 489 as the correct number which
occurred in the out-door* population of this District during
the year,givingamortalityof 17 per 1000 persons living. Of
the 155 persons who died in the Infirmary 48 belonged to the
Parish of Battersea, and as these were removed from both
Districts, they will be taken into account in the entire
death-rate in the combined summary for the whole Parish.
In looking at the different ages at which these deaths
have occurred,† one cannot but be struck by the large
number under five years of age, 300, being nearly half
the total number of deaths. As we then ascend in years
—from 5 to 10 and from 10 to 20—there seems to be
* Out-door with reference to Workhouse and Infirmary,
t For which see annexed Table,