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6
VITAL STATISTICS.
Deaths.
The number of deaths registered in the district was 999, but
443 of these did not belong to this district, while 53 residents
died without the district. Thus the number of deaths properly
attributable to the district was 609, which gives the death-rate for
the district of 12 49 per 1,000 of the population. The death-rate
for the district, when corrected for the age and sex constitution
of the population, is 1175 per 1,000, and this is comparable with
the following figures:—14.8 for England and Wales and 161 per
1,000 for London. This death-rate shews a slight increase above
that of last year, but is lower than the average of the 148 smaller
towns, which is 14 2 per 1,000.
These figures must be read in the light of the abnormal
conditions resulting from the War. The transfer of large bodies
of men from civil life to the Army, accompanied by some shifting
of population in connection with munition work and altered domestic
arrangements, has rendered it difficult to rely on the ordinary
estimates of population. On the other hand, the Eegistrar-General's
estimate of civil population (41,836) appears very low in comparison
with the known shortage of housing accommodation in the district.
If the Registrar-General's estimate be accepted and 17 military
deaths are deducted from the deaths chargeable to the district,
the death-rate for the civil population would be 14.1.