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192
obtained in the orthodox way. On these data the
death-rates would be as follows:—Dulwich, 9.9,
Camberwell 15.5, Peckham 18.8, St. George's 17'89,
and the whole Parish 17.4.
The alternative death-rates then are : for Dulwich,
6.24 and 9.9; for Camberwell, 16.08 and 15.5;
for Peckham, 21.77 and 17.9; for St. George's, 17.88
and 17 89; for the Parish generally, 18.26 and 17.4.
The latter series seems to me the more trustworthy,
but either of them is favourable.
Some light is thrown upon the condition of
health of a population by the ages at which death
occurs. Other things being equal, the larger the
proportion of deaths at an advanced period of life,
the healthier the population ; the larger the proportion
of deaths at an early period of life, the less
healthy the population. We cannot, however, arrive
at any just conclusion by simply comparing the percentages
of deaths in different localities at earl)' and
at advanced ages respectively ; for it is clear that if
tor any cause there be an excess of young children
in one place, there will, on that very account, be a proportionate
excess of infantile deaths, or if there be an
excess of aged persons, there will similarly be a