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3
In former annual reports I commented on the abnormally high birth-rate in
St. George's, and I expressed the opinion that in a few years the birth-rate would
become normal.
A few years ago, but more especially from 1901 to 1905, old residents moved
into the suburbs, and their houses were taken by aliens who were chiefly of the
child-bearing age. Old houses were demolished and large model dwellings were
erected instead ; these dwellings were also occupied by a similar class of people. It is
obvious that when the old residents left and their places were taken by young married
people, the birth-rate, must for a few years, be above the average. The larger the
number of persons of this age-period in a district, the greater will be the number
of children born, and the higher will be the birth-rate. As time goes on, these
families get beyond the child-bearing age, and the birth-rate, has a tendency year by
year to decline and approximate more to the normal rate. These forecasts have
come true.
In the Limehouse district there has been less immigration and the birth-rate
has not fluctuated to any appreciable extent in either direction.
523 births occurred in the Mothers' Lying-in Home, Commercial
Road:—
89 belonged to Mile End Old Town.
132 belonged to the Limehouse District.
52 belonged to St. George-in-the-East.
26 belonged to the Whitechapel District.
224 belonged to outlying districts.
330 births occurred in the London Hospital:—
53 belonged to Mile End Old Town.
32 belonged to the Limehouse District.
34 belonged to St. George-in-the-East.
37 belonged to the Whitechapel District.
174 belonged to outlying districts.
52 births occurred in the St. George's Infirmary:—
47 belonged to St. George-in-the-East.
5 belonged to the Limehouse District.
49 births occurred in the Mile End Infirmary:—
48 belonged to Mile End Old Town.
1 belonged to the Whitechapel District.
66 births occurred in the Whitechapel Infirmary:—
50 belonged to the Whitechapel District.
1 belonged to the Limehouse District.