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4
mortality. A statistical scrutiny tends rather to the
opposite conclusion. In the first place, we have a
largely increasing population. In my Preliminary
Report, it was shown that the annual ratio of increase
of population for all London was about 2 per cent, and
that of Shoreditch 3 per cent. Calculating from this,
the gross population of London was estimated last year
to be 2,500,000, and that of Shoreditch, about 125,000,
being exactly one-twentieth part of the metropolitan
population. Throughout the year, this proportion has
been made a convenient term of comparison to test
our relative mortality, gross and from particular
causes. There is abundant evidence to show that
this ratio of increase is fully maintained in Shoreditch.
Thus the births, during the two first quarters of the
present year, exhibit an increase of 5 per cent over
1855 and 1856. The actual increase of population
from excess of births over deaths, in 1856, was nearly
2000. To this we have to add the increase from immigration,
which is known to be large. Assuming,
however, the ratio of 3 per cent to hold, we cannot
estimate the population of Shoreditch, for this year, to
be less than 128,000. Upon this increased population
the increased mortality does not appear so excessive.
It amounts to 21 deaths to 1000 of population, per
annum, to be compared with 20 to 1000 for the like
quarter of 1856. Pursuing the analysis into the Causes
of Death, positive grounds for congratulation will be
made manifest. Thus, whilst the gross mortality is
somewhat greater, the mortality from Epidemic diseases,