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8
THE HEALTH OF THE BOROUGH
Population
At the Census of 1931 the population of the Borough was
37,791, while the Registrar General's estimate at the middle of
1946 was 39,290.
It is interesting to note that until the year 1943 there were
always more deaths than births in Richmond. Since 1943 there
has been an excess of births over deaths each year until in 1946
when 750 live births were recorded compared with 500 deaths.
Births
There were 772 births during the year (394 males and 378
females). This gives a Birth-Rate of 19.8 per thousand of the
population as compared with a rate of 19.1 in England and Wales.
The number of illegitimate births has fallen from 64 in 1945
to 54 in 1946. This decline should continue as social conditions
generally improve.
It is surprising to find that as many as 76% of the confinements
took place in hospitals and nursing homes and only 24% in
dwelling houses.
Deaths
The total number of deaths occurring amongst residents was
500 (230 males and 270 females). This gives a Death-Rate of
12.7 per thousand of the population as compared with 11.5 for
England and Wales. This is a crude Death-Rate which is not
strictly comparable since the ages of populations in different
districts vary. If corrected and made comparable it would be
more favourable in Richmond.
Despite the reduction in the number of illegitimate births the
infant mortality rate is higher this year than it was in 1945, and
the Still Birth-Rate shows a similar increase.
This appears to be due to a rather higher proportion than
usual of infants born suffering from congenital malformation or