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21
Mortality.—It will be better to defer any very
exhaustive analysis of the ordinary rates of mortality in
the sub-districts to the next report, before the publication
of which, the newly enumerated and actual population
will have been accurately determined.
The deaths registered in the sub-district of Eastern
Battersea during the year 1879 were, of males 508, and of
females 470, the total number being 978. This, upon an
estimated mean population based upon the births registered
during the year, shew the death-rate for the sub-district
for that year to have been 17.5 per thousand. The deathrate
(calculated in a similar manner) for 1878 gave a
death-rate of 17.8 per thousand. It will, therefore, be
evident that the mortality of the sub-district has rather
decreased during the year under report, especially as an
additional, or 53rd week, has been included.
The Registrar-General's official mean population would
however, give the death-rate for 1879 as rather more than
23 per thousand. This is believed to be much above the
real death-rate. In the next report the official and the
estimated mean populations will be identical, and the discrepancy
between the two methods of calculation will no
longer exist.
Ages at death.—The deaths under 1 year of age during
1879 were 329, about 32 per cent. of the total deaths.
Between 1 and 5 years 270, or 27 per cent. The total
deaths under five years were 599, and about 61 per cent.
of the 978 deaths registered. This indicates a lessened
infantile mortality, especially under 1 year, as the proportion
last year of deaths at that age was 40 per cent. of the
whole number.
Above 80 years of age 14 persons died. The majority
were females, as is usually the case, the oldest of whom
attained 91 years.