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2
VITAL STATISTICS.
BIRTHS.
During the year 853 Births were registered as
belonging to the Districts of which 4.28 were males and 425 were
females, as compared with 901 in 1943.
This is equal to an Annual Birth Rate of 16.9 per
thousand of population, as compared with 17.4 last year and 17.1,
12.6 and 12.3 in the preceding 3 years.
The average Birth Rate for this District has been
between 11.6 and 13.9. It suddenly increased in 1942, coinciding
with the biggest recruitment of women for National Service. The
National Birth Rate followed the same trend, though much less
abruptly, being 17.6 in 1944, 15.6 in 1943 and 15.8, 14.2 and
15.1 in the preceding 3 years. It is interesting to surmise
whether this year's slight local tendency to decrease will continue
in future years and whether the National rate will also have
reached its peak.
There were 39 illegitimate births (21 males and 18
females) registered, this being 12 less than in the preceding year.
Expressed as a percentage of total births, 4.6 were illegitimate
compared with 5.7, 4.8, 5.7 and 3.0 in the preceding 4 years.
In 1944 there were 21 still births registered
(9 males and 12 females), all occurring in legitimate children.
The local stillbirth Rate was thus 0.42 per thousand of population,
as compared with 0.66 last year and 0,56, 0.42 and 0.35 in the
preceding 3 years. This Rate for England and Vales was 0.50
in 1944.
DEATHS.
The number of Deaths registered during the year as
belonging to this District was 651, (302 males and 439 females),
as,compared with 570 in 1943.
The crude Death Rate' for the year was equal to 12.9
per thousand of population, as compared with 10,5 last year and
10.7, 11.6 and 11.5 in the preceding 3 years.
The crude Death Rates in England and Vales were 11.6
in 1944, and 12.1, 11.6, 12.9 and 14.3 in the preceding 4 years.
The chief causes of death in the District were Heart
and other circulatory diseases (including Cerebral Haemorrhage)
254, Cancer 96, followed by Violence (including Suicide) 68,
Bronchitis 34, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 31 and Pneumonia 30.
Heart Disease etc.
The percentage of deaths due to heart and other
circulatory diseases was slightly less than last year, altogether
constituting about two-fifths of the total deaths.
As has been previously stated, insofar as this group
includes deaths in elderly people from what is really old age, it
is hoped that the proportion of deaths coming under this heading
will increase.
This year 78 per cent. were over 65 years of age at
the time of death, while 48 per cent. were over 75 years of age,
being slightly less than the corresponding figures for last year.
Once again about a quarter of this group of deaths
was in respect of persons under 65 years of age in whom the
postponement of death might reasonably have been expected had
undue strain or stress been avoided.
Cancer.
During 1944 there were 96 deaths from cancer, with
the Cancer Death Rate 1.91 per thousand of population, compared
with 1.51, 1.74, 1.92 and 1.45 in the preceding 4 years.
with the age of the population at risk rising and
the rate fluctuating annually it is unwise to make any deductions