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and of deaths 946; in 1851-60 the mean annual number of births
was 2,223, and of deaths 1,391; in 1861-70 they were 3,440, and
2,182; whilst the means for the nine years 1871-9 were 5,115
births, and 2,215 deaths per annum, and the numbers registered
in 1879 were 6,312 births, and 3,285 deaths. The mean annual
proportions of births to 100 deaths in these periods were 146,159,
156, and 175, being as high as 192 in 1879. The number of births
to population has also increased steadily, showing that a larger
proportion of women at child-bearing ages arc now living in the
district, viz., 28.3 births to 1,000 population in 1841-50; 31.8
in 1851-60; 33.8 in 1861-70; and 34 6 in 1871-79. As might
be expected, the deaths under 1 year to 1,000 births have increased,
partly owing to increased density of population, but
chiefly to the much larger proportion of the working and lower
middle classes now residing in the district, amongst whom the
number of deaths of young children, to births, is always larger
than amongst the upper and upper middle classes. In 1841-50
the proportion was only 127; in 1851-60 it was 128; in 1861-70
it rose rapidly to 143; whilst for the nine years 1871-79 it was
only 142, against 158 for all London, which may be deemed
satisfactory, especially as in 1879 it was as low as 122, against
147. The death-rate from all causes in 1879 was singularly
low, viz., 18.7 per 1,000 population, against 23.2 for all London.
I may perhaps have scarcely allowed a sufficient number for
deaths in extraneous hospitals, but as I have included all our
deaths in the Small-pox, Fever, and German Hospitals, and added
on 127 deaths of non-residents in the German Hospital, &c., I
cannot be far wrong. The death-rate per 1,000 population from
the seven chief zymotic diseases in Hackney was less in 1871-79
than in 1851-60 and 1861-70, and was only 2.29, against 3.46
for the nine years 1871-79, and 3.87 for the same period for all
London.
In the early part of the year two caravans of gypsies settled
in a yard near High-street, Kingsland, to the great annoyance
of the residents, and I tried ineffectually to obtain their removal