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in 1909. Only three Boroughs had a lower death-rate than
Woolwich, viz.—Hampstead, Lewisham, and Stoke Newington.
(N.B.—Owing to the Registrar General taking a higher
population the birth and death rates come slightly lower than
those given above for Woolwich).
16. Lives Saved. In the last two years, I have estimated
that 376 and 479 lives, respectively, were saved owing to the
reduction of the death-rate. The average death-rate in the
years 1896-1905 was 15.4. Such a rate in 1909 would have
meant the death of 1968 persons instead of 1585 who actually
died. There was thus a saving of 383 lives in 1909. But this is
not the whole of the benefit conferred by a reduced deathrate,
for each of the 383 lives saved means about ten others
who have escaped a weakening illness, or have weathered
illness with less damaging effects, for a lower death-rate means
improved health of the surviving population.
Infant Mortality.
17. The deaths under one year were only 240, compared
with 292 in 1908. The infant mortality(deaths under one year
per thousand births) was 82, compared with 95 last year, and
113 in 1907. The infantile death rate was never below 100
till 1908. This great reduction in infant mortality has
exceeded the most sanguine expectations. The figures are not
liable to error from possible miscalculation of population, being
computed on the known number of births.
The following table gives the infantile mortality in the
Borough during the past seven years, compared with the
neighbouring Boroughs, London, and England:—
1901-5. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909.
Lewisham 112 113 90 86 93