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(residents only), 573; death rate, 11.2; infantile mortality
rate, 80.7; zymotic death rate, .19; excess of
births over deaths (residents only), 678.
Comparing the above figures with those for 1907,
the following differences will be noted:—An increase
of 1,412 in the total population; an increase of 23 in
the number of births registered; a decrease of .81 in
the number of deaths of residents; a decrease of .2 in
the birth rate; a decrease of 10.5 in the infantile mortality
rate; a decrease of .63 in the zymotic death
rate; the density of the Borough is equal to 15.8
persons per acre.
Vital statistics for England and Wales, 1908 :—
Births 26.5 per 1,000
Deaths 14.7 ,, ,,
Deaths from seven principal zymotic diseases,
1.29; infant mortality, annual death rate of infants
under one year per 1,000 births, 121.
With regard to the causes of the mortality, a
comparison with the previous year is, on the whole,
satisfactory, although there is a small increase under
the heads of cancer and phthisis. It is sad to reflect
that from this latter and other tuberculous complaints
53 deaths have to be recorded. Now that Phthisis
is proved to be not an hereditary disease, but an infectious
one, it is hoped that the crusade against it will
in the near future bear good results. A first official
step in this direction has been taken by making the
disease compulsorily notifiable amongst certain classes
of the community, and thus bringing to the notice of
the sanitary authority cases which would otherwise
escape its notice and attention. I am happy to be
able to state that there appears to be increasing interest
shown in the provision made by the Council for
the reception of cases of this disease at Mount Vernon
Hospital, and the beds retained there have been nearly
continuously occupied throughout the year. The disease
being a preventible one, there can be no reason
to doubt that as time goes on it will be as effectually