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29
BATTERSEA.
The total number of Births registered in the whole
of this rapidly increasing Parish during the year 1876 was
3455. The official mean population of the Registrar
General, which is admittedly too low, is 72,235; which
would give an estimated annual birth rate of 48 per thousand.
This is equally too high, and it is therefore evident
that a larger population is being dealt with than can be
assumed by the ordinary methods. If the normal birth-rate
in Battersea which has been found to exist during the
years in which the census has been taken, be accepted as
the true birth-rate, we get an estimated mean population
for the year 1876 of 82,434; a number which may be
assumed to be nearly the correct one.
In a like manner the official mean population gives a
death-rate of 24 per thousand, which, it is unnecessary to
observe, after the foregoing explanations, is far greater than
is really the case in this parish. The estimated mean
population, derived from the number of births, would give
an estimated death-rate for the whole parish, including all
deaths in 'public institutions, of 21 per thousand per annum.
It will be observed that this is somewhat higher than the
death-rates given in the reports relating to the Eastern
and Western Sub-districts of the Parish, the difference
being occasioned by the numerous persons dying in public
institutions; the majority of whom had no previous
residence in the Parish.
Sanitary operations during the year 1876 in the
Parish generally.—The Sanitary work of the past year has
been of a very important and varied character, as will be
seen on reference to Table VI., and the Medical Officers of
Health for both the Sub-districts have been so frequently
directed to inspect and report upon various alleged