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4
for the purpose of calculating the tables, showing the comparative
death-rates from various diseases in the several subdistricts.
MARRIAGES.
The number of marriages celebrated in St. Pancras during
1885 was 2,115. This number is 119, or 5.6 percent. below the
average for the preceding ten years, notwithstanding the population,
during the same period, has increased by 10,000
persons.
BIRTHS.
The number of births registered in St. Pancras during 1885
was 7,520. This number is 575, or 11.5 per cent. below the
average for the preceding decade, notwithstanding the abovementioned
increase of population. The number 7,520 is equal
to a rate of 31.2 per 1,000 living, the lowest rate of which I can
find record, looking back 80 years.
DEATHS.
During the 52 weeks of 1885, ending January 2nd, 1886,
4,981 deaths were registered in St. Pancras. By excluding the
deaths of non-parishioners dying in St. Pancras, and including
the deaths of St. Pancras parishioners dying without the Parish,
the corrected number of deaths becomes 4,794, within one of
the same number of deaths last year, which consisted of 53
weeks. This, with the increase of population, is equal to a rate
of 19.89 per 1,000 living. The death-rate of all London for
the year 1885 is 19.7, the lowest on record. It is somewhat
surprising that in such a healthy year the death-rate of St.
Pancras should be higher than in the years 1883 and 1884, which
were respectively 19.72 and 19.55 per 1,000, and that the same
death-rate should prevail as in 1882.
The explanation is this: The Registrar-General has this year,
for the first time, supplied Metropolitan Medical Officers
of Health with a quarterly return of the lunatics of each parish
dying in extra Metropolitan Asylums. These deaths, numbering
95 in 1885, have not before been added to the annual death-rate,
and if subtracted from the 4,794 deaths, so as to bring the
numbers into comparison with former years, we obtain a deathrate
of 19.50, the lowest death-rate on record in St. Pancras.