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3. This rapid augmentation of the Death-rate was mainly owing
to an epidemic of measles which prevailed in the months of November
and December, with a fatality unknown since the new system of
Registration has been in force. During the quarter, 1,420 Deaths
arose from measles alone.
4. The Births in St. Giles District in 1873 were 1,639, at the rate
of 32.5 per 1000 of its population; and the Deaths 1,277, at the
rate of 23.90 per 1000. Thus our Birth-rate was lower and our Deathrate
higher that the rates for the Metropolis. Nevertheless, our
Death-rate is a low one for St. Giles. Like the Metropolis at large,
we suffered a considerable mortality from Measles in the last quarter,
and had besides a misfortune of our own in an outbreak of Typhus
Fever in Great Wild Street and the adjacent courts (§ 32).
5. Atmospheric Phenomena.— During this quarter, the
temperature was very variable and prejudicial to health. From about
the middle of October to the middle of November the weather was
unusually cold; the deficiency of mean temperature, as stated in Mr.
Glaisher's Report, published by the Registrar General, being about 3½°;
"then, from November 17th to December 7, the weather was mostly
warm, and the excess of mean temperature was 3.l°. A week of
very cold weather ensued, the deficiency of temperature on the
9th, 10thand 11th being 11½°,16½° and 12½° respectively." The dense
fog that prevailed during these days will not be readily forgotten.
It was caused by the downward current of cold air precipitating the
moisture and smoke in our atmosphere. There was neither rain nor
wind during this period, and the consequent stagnation of the
atmosphere was a coinciding cause of the fog.
The Birth-rate in St. Giles District.
6. The Registered Births in St. Giles District for the year
1873 were 1,778; but this number requires correction, inasmuch as
there were 139 Births in the British Lying-in Hospital which did not
belong to St. Giles District. Subtracting this number, the Births are
reduced to 1,639. These 139 Births are moreover registered in the St.
Giles South Sub-District, whose aggregate is increased to this extent.
The importance of deducting these Births, in order to make an
approximately correct statement, will be apparent on considering
that whilst St. Giles South, with a population of 19,089, is charged
with 837 Births, St. George Bloomsbury, with a population of 17,843,
is charged with only 469 Births. In other words, each woman in
the Southern District of St. Giles is supposed to give birth to two
children (nearly) as against one borne by each woman in St. George,
Bloomsbury.
7. The Births in St. George, Bloomsbury, are, however,
comparatively few on account of the large number of single persons
—maid servants—who live there, a cause that influences the Death
registers in a similar degree.
8. Among the Births in the British Lying-in Hospital, there