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64
discrepancy I have been unable to ascertain, but a possible one may
be mentioned. The registration and the municipal areas do not
correspond. Although over two years have elapsed since the rearrangement
of boundaries between Acton and Brentford & Chiswick
was completed, the old registration areas still obtain. The residents
of Ivy Crescent and the transferred area in Bollo Lane still have to
go to Chiswick to register the births and deaths, and the residents
of Silver Crescent, Thorneyhedge Road and the rest of the area
transferred to Chiswick still register the births in Acton.
431 deaths were registered in the district; of these 42 did
not belong to Acton and were transferred to other districts.
405 deaths of Acton residents occurred outside the area and
have been included in our returns. The total number of deaths
belonging to the district is therefore 794, which corresponds to a
death-rate of 11.5 per thousand inhabitants. In previous reports
the method adopted by the Registrar General to standardize the
death-rate has been explained ; a comparability factor is supplied
to each district for adjusting the local death-rate to make it comparable
with other districts. The comparability factor is based
upon the age distribution and sex incidence of the district at the
Census of 1931. The comparability factor for Acton is 1.08. The
standardized death-rate for Acton is 12.4 per thousand inhabitants.
The death-rate for England and Wales for 1936 was 12.1 per thousand
; the crude death-rate for the administrative County of London
was 12.5 ; for the 122 County Boroughs and Great Towns with over
50,000 inhabitants 12.3 ; and for the 143 smaller Towns with a population
between 25,000 and 50.000 inhabitants 11.5 per thousand.
The number of deaths is 90 more than that of 1935 arid with
the exception of the year 1929, last year's total was the highest
on record.
On the surface, the figures appear to be very unfavourable,
but when they are closely examined, it will be observed that most
of the increased mortality was in the later years of life. Unfortunately,
there is a higher infantile mortality, and this is commented
on in a later paragraph.
There is also a higher mortality from Phthisis or Pulmonary
Tuberculosis. Ever since the war, there has been a progressive
improvement in the mortality from Tubercular diseases, and
though we have to record a set-back last year, it is probable that this
is only a temporary and transient phenomenon.