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11
Births.
The number of births registered in the Borough during
the year was 7,530 (3,886 males and 3,644 females), but of this
total 969 were children of non-residents, who came to be confined
in one or other of the maternity hospitals, or were visiting
friends, while 149 West Ham women were confined outside
the Borough. Suitable adjustment makes the net West Ham
Births 6,710(3,479 males and 3,231 females); 163 of these (86
males and 77 females) were illegitimate.
Calculated on the Registrar General's estimate of the
population of the Borough at the middle of 1926, viz., 315,900,
the birth rate for the year was 21.2, being the lowest ever
recorded for the Borough. 7,183 live births and 219 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
2,214, but of these 179 occurred in persons not belonging to
the Borough, while the deaths of 1,370 residents of West Ham
occurred in various institutions and districts elsewhere, making
the total net deaths attributable to the Borough number 3,405,
of which 1,796 were males and 1,609 females.
The distribution of these deaths to their various causes
will he found later in this report, but the grand total of 3,405
from all causes gives an annual death rate of 10.7 per 1,000
of the estimated population. It may be of interest to compare
the annual death rate for England and Wales, which was 11.6
ner 1.000 of the total population, and that for the 105 Countv
Pinroughs and Great Towns, including London, which
was 11,6.
Deaths in Public Institutions.
The increasing use made of the facilities for Institutional
treatment is shown by the subjoined table. The larger
Institutions serving the Borough, such as Whipps Cross
Hospital and the Central Home of the Board of Guardians and
the Borough Mental Hospital, are situate outside the Borough
boundary, while in addition manv West Ham residents are
received into the London Hospitals and Institutions elsewhere.
Similarly the Public Institutions within the Boroueh (Queen
Mnrv's Hospital for the East End, St. Mary's Hospital.
I laistow Maternitv Charitv. the Children's Hospital (Balaam
Mreet), "Royal Albert Dock Hospital and Eorest Gate Sick
Home) receive patients from the surrounding: districts whose
oaths are registered in the district, but have to be excluded
from tabulation as transferable from West Ham.