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29
BATTERSEA WEST.
The year under report has been productive of the
greatest number of deaths ever registered in this district,
having reached the large number of 1,002. This number
includes all those which took place in the Infirmary, which
are also in excess of any previous year, being 204. There
is also another cause by which the deaths are swollen, viz.,
by taking in the calculations, in accord with the RegistrarGeneral,
53 weeks, the extra week being at the end of the
year; and in which no less than 33 deaths were returned,
being nearly double that of the usual average. Notwithstanding
this excess in the deaths over the previous year,
we have a death-rate of 20 per 1,000, being considerably
less than that of the metropolis. This is satisfactory, for
the addition which is and has been taking place in
the population must be patent to all. With increased
population there must of necessity be more houses,
more impurities and prevention to the free circulation of
air; and it generally follows that the greater the density
of persons, so the amount of sickness is also increased.
It is difficult to give with accuracy, in a district like
this, a correct death-rate; and judging from the birth-rate
I should say the estimated rate given above is at least two