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the disease Was not fatal in any case, although many persons
suffered severely; while in a large number of cases the malady
set in with symptoms of such a severe and threatening type, as
to forebode mischief far beyond that actually experienced. The
disease appears now, and for many months past, to have wholly
disappeared.
NEW FORMS FOR RECORDING SANITARY STATISTICS.
The Tables in the Appendix numbered 1 to 6, inclusive, have
been drawn up by the Society of Medical Officers of Health for
general use throughout the country, and with a view to facilitate
comparison between different districts and with standard areas.
The want of uniformity in the Statistical Returns of the Medical
Reports had long been felt; I was induced, therefore, to bring the
subject before the Society, which after a most careful consideration
and having obtained the views of a great many Officers of Health,
settled these forms, which, it is hoped, will supply all the information
that is absolutely requisite without imposing an undue
amount of work on those who may use them. Should the Tables
come into general use they cannot fail to invest the vital statistics
in the Reports of Medical Officers with a much greater and more
universal interest than heretofore.
POPULATION.
The population of the parish estimated to July was 133,000, an
increase of 5,500 during the year. The greater part of the
increase, viz., 3,360, was due to immigration, as the births exceeded
the deaths by 1,836 only. The inhabited houses numbered
16,920, an increase of 714 during the year: giving an average of
7.7 persons to each house. Building operations have not been so
active as in the years immediately preceding the last census (1871).
The population, nevertheless, appears to have increased nearly as
rapidly as in the previous decade, mainly owing to immigration
from other parts. The number of empty houses has considerably
diminished and the rateable value of property has increased largely,
being now over one million pounds. There remain several
hundred acres as yet unbuilt over. The density of the population
—assuming that 400 acres out of the 2,190 are still uncovered,
would be 74 per acre. The parish for registration purposes is
divided into two Sub-districts, viz.. Town (1497 acres) and
Brompton (693 acres). The population of the Town District is
estimated to be 102,000; and the Brompton District 31,000.
The female inhabitants preponderate greatly. The excess in 1871
was 22,234, and no doubt the relative proportion of the sexes continues
much the same. It may be estimated, therefore, that the
males numbered 55,000 and the females 78,000.