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in the case of the large provincial towns shown in the table on page 7, there has been a large
percentage diminution in the death-rate of 1903 when compared with that of the preceding
decennium in almost every instance, the greatest percentage diminution being in that of the Bristol
death-rate, viz., 18-8 per cent., and the smallest in that of the Sheffield death-rate, viz., 7-4 per cent.
In the case of the foreign towns (see table, page 7), the diminution in the death-rates has also been
of a marked character, the only instance of increase being in that of Rome, where the decennial

The fact that the low death-rate of 1903 obtained over a very wide area, and that the fall
compared with recent years was of a marked character, is strongly suggestive of some general
cause, such as favourable meteorological conditions, being largely responsible for the phenomenon.
In my annual report for 1894, when the death-rate for London was exceptionally low, I
discussed the effect on the London death-rate of the changes in the age and sex constitution of the
population which had occurred since 1841. Having regard to the fact that the death-rate for 1903
is the lowest on record, and that nearly ten years have elapsed since I last discussed this question,
it is of interest to examine again the effect of these changes on the London death-rate, and for this
purpose the following table has been prepared. In explanation of this table, it may be stated that
the corrected death-rates shown in column 3 are the products of the crude average rates shown in
column 2, and " factors for correction" calculated by applying to the recorded death-rates in
London in the decennium 1891-1900 at each age period, populations enumerated in the successive
census years 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901. The age and sex constitution of the population
in 1851 has been assumed to be constant over the period 1846-1855, that of 1861 over the period 18561865
and similarly for each period shown in the table. On this assumption the percentage excess
of the death-rates in each period over that of 1896-1903 is shown in column 5, and a comparison of
column 5 with column 4 shows that, although the present age and sex constitution of the London
population is more favourable to low death-rates than that of preceding periods, the proportion of
the decline in the death-rate due to the altered age and sex constitution of the population is so
small that for comparative purposes it may be disregarded—
Crude Corrected Uncorrected death- Corrected death-rates
Period average annual rates per cent, excess per cent, excess over
death-rates. death-rates. over 1896-1903. 1896-1903.
1 2 3 4 6
1846-1855 25 .10 24.88 37.6 35.8
1856-1865 23.56 22.99 29.2 25.5
1866-1875 23 .62 22 .93 29.5 25.2
1876-1885 21.58 21.02 18.3 14.7
1886-1895 20.10 20.03 10.2 9.3
1896-1903 18.24 18.32 - -
The following table shows the crude death-rates and the death-rates corrected for
differences in the age and sex constitution of the several metropolitan boroughs during the
year 1903. The mean death-rates for the years 1901-2' are also shown for the purpose oi
comparison—
1 Owing to the changes consequent upon the London Government Act, 1899, the death-ratea in the present metropolitan boroughs
cannot be shown prior to the year 1901.