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5
Births.
One thousand two hundred and forty-two births
(males 597, females 645) were registered, equal to
a birth rate of 23.4 per thousand of population, which
is an increase of .87 over the previous year, or 58
more births. I may add that the density of population
is equal to 16.8 persons per acre. The birth rate for
last year, per thousand living, was 24.8 in England
and Wales, and the death rate equalled 13.4.
The deaths from the principal epidemic diseases
in the Borough equalled 0.18 per thousand against 1.04
in 1909. In the Country generally it was 0.99 per
thousand.
With regard to the causes of deaths during the
past year, a comparison of the Tables for that and the
previous year shows a material decrease under almost
all heads in favour of the present returns. Owing
to the temperate conditions of that season, " epidemic
summer diarrhcea," so frequently fatal to infant life,
did not pervail, and disorders most prevalent during
the winter months (which were comparatively mild),
such as Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Influenza, etc., etc.,
were far less fatal than usual. Fifty-seven deaths
arose from Cancer, being an increase of two.
The deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis were 40
in number, being equal to 0.73 per thousand of population,
and an increase of two over 1909.
It is unnecessary to do more than briefly allude to
the increasing efforts being made to combat the
ravages of this prevalent but preventible, although
fatal, disease, efforts which, if actively and generally
pursued, give hope that in the course of another generation
or two the scourge will be greatly abated, if
not actually wiped out. At the time of writing a
Conference of delegates from all the County Sanitary
Authorities is proposed to be held by the County
Council, and the need for some uniform system being
adopted for the proper and modern plan of treatment
of Phthisis is of pressing necessity.