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26
The following table gives an analysis of the deaths
with reference to the particular quarter of the year in
which they were registered.
Year 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
14 weeks
1873 — 313 — 277 — 303 — 414 — 1307
In the last quarter of the year diseases of the Respiratory
Organs were unusually fatal, but for which a very low
death-rate for the year would have been shewn.
Births.—The birth-rate is the most accurate test of the
correctness or otherwise of the estimated mean population.
The death-rate varies with the greater or less severity of
the weather, the prevalence or otherwise of Zymotic
diseases, and with other less easily defined causes, but
cæeteris paribus the birth-rate will be found to be in a given
population very little subject to variation.
The births registered in 1873 were as follows (53
weeks):—
Males Females Total
1371 — 1288 — 2659
equal to 43.5 per thousand persons living, or 1 to every 23
persons.
The birth-rate for the preceding year was 42 per
thousand, and as the inclusion of 53 weeks makes a
difference of nearly 2 per cent. in favour of 1873, the rate
for either year was practically equal, which entitles us to
assume that our estimated population is as nearly the true
one as possible.
The births in 1873 were 2659
The deaths 1307
The natural rate of increase 1352