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from measles, diptheria and whooping cough were in excess of
the average, but from scarlet fever, fever and diarrhoea were
somewhat below it, whilst the number of deaths from small pox
was unusually small. The epidemic of small pox raised the mean
annual number of deaths per 10,000 population by 5.6, so that
even after allowing for this the deaths were 3 per 10,000 less
than the mean.
The death-rate for the District during the year was 20.6 per
1000 population, whilst for all London it was 23.7 per 1000.
In the western districts of London it was 22.1; in the northern
22.3; in the central 26.0; in the eastern 25.5, and in the
southern 24.0; so that although the mortality of the northern
districts was below that for all London, yet that for Hackney
was 1.7 per cent. below the northern and 31 per cent. below that
of all London. This is the greatest disparity since 1868, which
shows Hackney to have been exceptionally healthy last year.
The death-rate has been calculated by the elimination of the
deaths of non-residents in the Small Pox and Fever Hospitals,
and the retention of all the deaths in the German Hospital,
whether non-resident or not, and in the City of London Union,
as a counterpoise to the deaths of inhabitants of Hackney in
other Metropolitan hospitals. There have been 161 inquests
held in Hackney during the year, which is equal to 5.5 per cent.
of the total deaths, which is about an average proportion. As
the normal death rate for Hackney is 22.04 and for London
21.79 per 1000, it is evident that the death-rate in Hackney is
satisfactory.
I have attended 31 meetings of Sanitary and 2 of other
committees, as well as 11 meetings of the View Committee,
making 44 attendances on committees, which is above the
average. Many important matters have been discussed at these
Committees, and reports thereon brought up to the Board.
Amongst these I may mention making final arrangements for
the supply of death returns to me by the registrars of the subdistricts;
the consideration of the dust contracts; of the state of
the River Lea; of the slaughter-house regulations issued by the