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21
1937. This figure is accepted as the basic standard on
which all vital statistical rates for the Borough are
calculated for the year under review.
The number of inhabited houses according to the rate
books at the end of 1937 was 16,545, and by calculating
on the-basis of 3.61 persons per house, which was the figure
disclosed as a result of the Housing Survey in 1936, we
get an approximate population figure of 59,727 at tlve end
of 1937.
VITAL STATISTICS.
Births.
The Birth Kate for 1937 is 13.2 per 1,000 population.
During the year 836 births were -notified under the
Notification of Births Act, 1907, and Section 203 of the
Public Health Act, 1936. It may be noted in passing that
the Notification of Births Act, 1907, was repealed as from
1st October, 1937, but its provisions are continued under
the Public Health Act, 1936, Section 203.
It has been found necessary to draw the attention of
all concerned to the obligation of notifying births within
36 hours of occurrence, as there had been undue delay in
notifying in 61 instances during 1937. None were flagrant
breaches of the statutory requirements, but in practically
every instance failure to notify promptly, appears to have
arisen through the tendency of the doctor and maternity
nurse to leave notification to each other.
rhe figure of 836 notified births comprises 822 live
births and 14 stillbirths, and of the total, 366 were notified
by midwives and 470 by doctors and parents.
Of the 822 live births occurring in Bromley 211 concerned
residents outside the Bromley area. This figure
was offset by the fact that another 225 babies of Bromley
residents were born outside the area.
1 tie Registrar General gives the number of registered
births in the area for the calendar year and modified by
inward and outward residence transfers as 778 live births,