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31
1874; and 3022 deaths in the former year against
2496 in the latter year. The births therefore shew
an increase of 235, the deaths an increase of 526.
With one exception the increase prevailed throughout
all the sub-districts of the parish. Thus, as compared
with those of 1874, in Dulwich the births were
less by 9, but the deaths were more numerous by 9 ;
and in Camberwell sub-district the births were more
numerous by 81, the deaths by 134; in Peckham the
births were more numerous by 76, the deaths by
223; and in St. George's the births were more
numerous by 87, the deaths by 160. It is obvious
however from these facts that while births and deaths
have both increased, the deaths have increased in
much larger proportion than the births; and that we
have here an indication of relative unhealthiness
which it is necessary to investigate.
In reference to this point it becomes important
for us to determine, so far as the facts at our disposal
permit us, the death rates of the parish and of its
several sub-districts during the year. The death rate,
or the per-centage mortality, is the numerical relation
between the number of persons who were alive during
the year, and the number of deaths which occurred
among them during that period. Of these two factors
of the death rate, one, namely the number of deaths,
is accurately recorded in my tables; the other,