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4
rate of twopence for each entry. The matter was brought before the
Vestry, and they, considering such charge unreasonable, declined to
pay. Most of the Metropolitan Vestries have, however, now made
arrangements with the Local Registrars, and their Medical Officers
are supplied with those particulars, which are so necessary for the
carrying on of their duties. Mr. Cross's Act, indeed, must remain
almost a dead letter, so far as this parish is concerned, as there is
no possibility of ascertaining the locality of unhealthy areas, unless
systematic returns of sickness or deaths are supplied to the Medical
Officer.
Since this Report was commenced, I am happy to state, the
Vestry have so far relaxed the previous resolution, that immediate
information is, for the future, to be given by the registrars to the
sanitary authority, of all deaths from Infectious Fever, Small Pox,
and Diarrhcea. This will be of immense assistance to us, as sanitary
defects will be detected, and disinfection and cleansing carried out
without loss of time.
POPULATION.
t
As census enumerations are only held in this country once in ten
years, there is considerable difficulty in forming correct estimates of
population; this unquestionably detracts from the value of death
rates. The most approved method for estimating population is the
one pursued by the Registrar General, which, however, gives an
approximate result only.
This method is to add to the population, as enumerated at the last
census, a tenth of the difference between that number and the number
obtained at the previous census, for each year that has elapsed since
the last census, and a fortieth of that difference for each odd quarter.
It is now exactly five years since the last census was taken, in April,
1871. The population of Bethnal Green was then 120,200. In 1861
it amounted only to 105,101 ; this is an increase in the ten years of
15,099, and is nearly the same as that which took place in the ten
years 1851-61—so that we may safely assume that the rate of increase
has been maintained since the last enumeration in 1871. I therefore