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4
Deaths (all causes).
The deaths among the civil population of London during 1916 numbered 62,325, as compared
with 72,393 in 1915 and 66,037 in 1914. The Registrar.General calculates the death.rate at 14.7 per
1,000. The death.rate in 1914 was 14.6, calculated on the total population in the middle of the year.
Thus with fewer deaths in 1916, the death.rate is stated to be higher. This is, however, an anomaly
resulting purely from the use of a "civil" population without correction for the change in age and sex
constitution resulting from the withdrawal of males of military age from the total, the military age
being a period of low mortality compared with other ages of life. Had there been no war the death.
rate in 1916 calculated on a normal population would have been below the rate of 14.6 recorded in 1914,
and probably would not have greatly exceeded the record rate for 1912 of 13.6.

It was remarked in last year's report that the increased deaths in that year over 1914 could not
be ascribed to the depressing influences of the war, but were due to clearly definable causes, notably
the high prevalence of measles, respiratory diseases, and influenza; this is confirmed by the figures for
the present year, inasmuch as the deaths show a decided decrease upon the 1914 figures at all ages except
those over 55. The decrease in the deaths at age 0.1 is, of course, in a measure due to the decrease
in the birth.rate, but not more than 10 per cent. of the decrease can thus be accounted for.
Infant
mortality.
The deaths at age 0.1 in London during 1916, numbered 8,864, or 89 per 1,000 births,
(as compared twith a rate of 112 in 1915 and 104 in 1914) the lowest infant mortality rate
ever recorded in the county, the lowest previous rate recorded being 91 in 1912. There can be little
doubt that the favourable conditions of moderate summer temperature have had a preponderating share
in the result. In other directions, however favourable influences have undoubtedly been at work,
which are reflected in reduction of deaths from suffocation and perhaps in less degree, from prematurity.
It is probable that these causes of death have declined as a result of the restriction on the sale of
intoxicants. The reduction in the deaths in prematurity, may in part be due to less drunkenness
amongst expectant mothers, and it is worthy of note that the decrease does not follow so immediately
upon drink restrictions, as in the case of overlaying.
Year and Quarter.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
4th.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
4th.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
4th.
Suffocation in bed
Prematurity
Atrophy, debility and
marasmus
106
531
279
65
469
241
56
480
271
72
503
261
79
510
288
47
416
223
23
384
237
45
473
277
47
448
228
32
371
220
27
374
187
41
430
272
299
1,983
1,052
194
1,783
1,025
147
1,623
907
It will be seen that the change in incidence of prematurity is not correspondingly evident in
atrophy, debility, etc.
It will be remembered that in the early days of the war, limitations in the hours of sale of
intoxicants to women were introduced, and later, restricting orders were made.
The decline in infant mortality has not, as was noted last year, taken place pari passu with that
in the death.rate at higher ages, indeed, it has only become marked during the present century and
particularly so during the last 6 or 7 years. It has been recently attributed to such causes as the
passing of the Midwives Act in 1902, the passing of the Children Act, the institution of Schools for
Mothers in 1906 and onwards, and the Notification of Births Acts of 1907 and 1915. It would be more
reasonable, however, to attribute schools for mothers and notification of births to the influences which
have brought about the decline of infant mortality. Some of these influences were considered in the
annual report for 1914; broadly, they are summed up in the changed character, moral and physical, of
the parent generation; but special note should have been there made in this connection of the fact that
the fathers and mothers of children born after 1900, had, for the most part, received the benefits of
elementary education. A military authority recently informed the President of the Board of Education
that the men of to.day make good soldiers "in spite of the Board Schools," and there are some authorities