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10
Births.
The number of births registered in the Borough during the
year was 7,975 (4,014 males and 3,901 females), but of this total
888 were children of non.residents who came to be confined in
one or other of the maternity hospitals or were visiting friends,
while 115 West Ham mothers were confined outside the
Borough. Suitable adjustment makes the net West Ham births
7,202 (3,642 males and 3,560 females); 201 of these (102 males
and 99 females) were illegitimate.
Calculated on the Registrar General's estimate of the
population of the Borough at the middle of 1924, viz., 317,400,
the birth.rate for the year was 22.69. 7,548 live births and 201
still births were notified within 36 hours of birth in accordance
with the Notification of Births Act, 1907.
Deaths.
The number of deaths registered during the year was 2,650,
but of these 198 occurred in persons not belonging to the
Borough, while the deaths of 1,200 residents of West Ham
occurred in various institutions and districts elsewhere, making
the total net deaths attributable to the Borough number 3,652,
of which 1,913 were males and 1,739 females.
The distribution of these deaths to their various causes will
be found later in this report, but the grand total of 3,652 from
all causes gives an annual death.rate of 11.5 per 1,000 of the
estimated population. It may be of interest to compare the
annual death rate for England and Wales, which was 12.2 per
1,000 of the total population, and that for the 105 County
Boroughs and Great Towns, including London, which was 12.3.
Deaths in Public Institutions.
The increasing use made of the facilities for Institutional
treatment is shown by the subjoined table (which also serves to
some extent as an index of prevailing distress). The larger
Institutions serving the Borough, such as Whipps Cross
Hospital and Central Home of the Board of Guardians, and the
Borough Mental Hospital, are situate outside the Borough
boundary, while in addition many West Ham residents are
received into the London Hospitals and Institutions elsewhere.
Similarly the Public Institutions within the Borough (Queen
Mary's Hospital for the East End, St. Mary's Hospital,
Plaistow Maternity Charity, I.C.C.S. Children's Hospital,