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22
Comparing the number of deaths in 1908-9 with those in
1903-4, there was in the two latter years a considerable saving
of life at nearly all ages under 65. If increase of population
were allowed for, the saving of life would be even more marked.
Over 65 there were considerably more deaths, and these were
from apoplexy and other diseases of the heart, and blood
vessels, and to a less extent from nephritis, and diseases of the
kidneys.
It appears then that more persons are surmounting the
perils of childhood, and the diseases which affect early adult
life(mainly tuberculous and respiratory) and are living to die
of the wear and tear of life, which necessarily kill sooner or
later, in old age. These facts disprove the assertion that a
diminished infantile mortality only means the survival of
delicate children to fall an easy prey to the diseases of childhood,
and early manhood. On the contrary it appears to mean
a more vigorous and enduring manhood and womanhood.
In 1909 there was a considerable increase of deaths from
nephritis, respiratory, and heart diseases, cancer and influenza,
and a slight increase from the principal zymotics; there was
a decrease from tuberculous diseases.
14a. The chart on the opposite page shews graphically, how
the birth and death rates have varied in the past 19 years.
The death-rate, and infantile death-rate usually rise and fall
together, but the birth-rate follows quite a different course,
shewing that the fall in the infantile death-rate can only be
but slightly, if at all, the result of the fall in the birth-rate.
15. Tables VI. and VII. kindly supplied by the Registrar
General, give a summary of the Vital Statistics of the County
and Metropolitan Boroughs in the five years 1905-8 and