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8
Kate of Mortality for the Year ended 27th September, 1879.
The rate of mortality for the year ended 27th September, deducting the
deaths of non-residents in the London Hospital, was 24.7 per 1,000. During
this Quarter the mortality is only at the annual rate of 22.9 per 1,000. These
comparatively low rates of mortality arc calculated for the entire District;
but if we inquire into the rate of mortality for separate Districts, it will be
found to vary very materially, as may be seen from the subjoined table.
Rate of mortality in the entire District for twelve months ended 27th
September, 1879 (deducting the deaths of non-residents), is, as above
stated, 24.7 per 1000; while the rate of mortality in the undermentioned
localities for the same year is, per 1000, as follows:—
Population.
83 Grigg's Court 60.2
159 Everard's Place 56.6
92 AVhite Bear Court 54.4
375 Castle Alley 40.0
152 Frying Pan Alley 26.3
160 Artillery Passage 25.0
873 Goulston Street 22.0
234 Boar's Head Yard 21.3
400 Spital Square 5.0
East Mount Terrace, no deaths; population 96.
Trinity Square (in the part belonging to this District) no deaths;
population about 84.
I may here state that the rate of mortality in many of the poorer
Districts varies considerably in each year.
The average rate of mortality in a given District—the rate being calculated
for the entire area—does not always indicate the healthiness or unhealthiness
of that particular District; and if we were to conclude that a
District, merely on account of its having a lower average rate of mortality
than another, was therefore the more healthy, we might be led into error.
In making a comparison between one District and another, as regards
their relative healthiness, we must inquire into the social condition of the
people, their habits, ages, occupation, &c. The greater the number of
illegitimate children born and living in a locality will, to some extent, increase
the death rate; it being a well known fact, that where there is a
large proportion of illegitimate births in a given population, there will be
a comparatively larger death rate, probably owing to the want of care
bestowed on those unfortunate beings.