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18
Illegitimate Births. The number of illegitimate births
registered was 68. There were 21 inward transfers and 22
outward transfers, making a net figure of 67, equivalent to
29 per 1,000 births.
Natural Increase of Population. This term means the
excess of births over deaths. In 1925 it was 1,063, in 1926.
1,013, and in 1927 it was 751.
Notification of Births. During the year, 2,368 live
births were notified. This is at the rate of 100 per cent. of
registered births, and compares with 95 per cent. last year.
1,120 notifications were received from midwives, 154 from
doctors, 90 from parents, 60 from other persons, 630 from
the British Hospital for Mothers and Babies, 200 from the
Military Families Hospital, 51 from the Woolwich Infirmary.
13 from the Woolwich and Plumstead Maternity Home, and
7 from the Eltham Cottage Hospital. Forty-three births
took place in midwives' homes. In addition to these, 50
notifications were received from the Medical Officer of Health,
Greenwich ; 45 from the Medical Officer of Health, Lewisham
; and 35 from other Medical Officers of Health. Sixtytwo
still births were notified. It is known that 855 births
took place in institutions, either within or without the
Borough, so that the percentage of institutional midwifery
for the Borough as a whole was 38.14 per cent., the figures
for the various districts being: Woolwich, 42 per cent. ;
West Plumstead, 38 per cent.; East Plumstead, 38 per
cent.; and Eltham, 35 per cent. The number of maternity
beds in the Borough is not yet equal to the demand, and I
have little doubt that the provision of further beds would
mean a further increase in the number of women entering
institutions for their confinements.
The following Table, No. 8, shews the number of corrected
births each year since 1923, the number of live and still