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10
PREFACE.
To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the
Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In presenting my Fourteenth Annual Report (which includes
the 23rd Annual Report on the Health of Plumstead)
I have to report that the markedly low death rate which
characterised reoent years has reoeived a check. This is
partly connected with conditions unfavourable to health
which always follow on the outbreak of war. It must, however,
be recognised that the death rate cannot continue to
fall indefinitely.
If the population were not increasing a death rate of 10
per thousand would mean an average life of 100 years.
Death rates under 12 per thousand necessarily imply an increasing
population containing an excess of young persons.
Owing to fewer children born the rate of increase of the
population has been steadily diminishing in reoent years and
hence the death rate cannot oontinue to fall as it has done.
Of course Woolwich, although it has made vast progress in
sanitation 6inoe 1850 (see Introduction) has by no means
reached a condition of sanitary perfection, and may still