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tion the death-ralte for the year appears as less than that of
1911. In any case the death-rate for 1910 could not have been
less than 9, and I estimate it at 9'5. It will be seen, therefore,
that actually the death-rate is less than last year.
In comparing death-rates of different districts allowance
has to be made for the varying composition of the population
as regards age and s*ex. Districts such as Finchley have an
unduly large proportion of young adults, while others may
have a higher proportion of persons at the two extremes of
life, where the chance of death is greater. On the basis of
the Census, a "factor" is obtained for each district, and when
comparing death-rates the recorded rates must be multiplied
by this factor. The "factor" for Finchley (based on the 1901
Census) is 1.05, and corrected in the manner indicated the
death-rate for 1911 becomes 9-3. This is the figure which
must be considered when comparing the death-rate of Finchley
with those of England and Wales and the County of London,
which for 1911 are 14.6 and 15.8 respectively.
Several improvements in the statistical methods
have been effected during the year by the Registrar
General and the Local Government Board, and it
will be observed that the classification of deaths in Table
I. differs from that in last year's report. The present
classification is what is known as the " International," and will
allow of more correct comparisons both in this country and
abroad. Further, very desirable additional "age periods"
have been made, viz.:—1 to 2; 2 to 5; 25 to 45. Moreover,
in order that all deaths may be correctly assigned to the
districts to which they really belong, the Registrar-General
has devised a scheme by which this can be brought about, and
whereby many errors will be avoided.
The following 1 ble I. gives the causes and number of
deaths at the various age periods and is self-explanatory:—