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thrice as high as that of the other, provided other conditions
are such that in both cases the inhabitants attain the same
mean age ; or that, conversely, supposing different populations
to enjoy the same mean duration of life, any differences
which may be presented by their respective death-rates are
due to other circumstances than difference of health. Now,
the association of a birth-rate of .307 per thousand with
a death-rate of 18.5, implies (if these rates be continued)
an average duration of life of 417 years; whereas if, the
death-rate continuing the same, the birth-rate should be 35.9
(which was its rate in 1876) the implied duration of life
would be 38.4, or 3.3 years less.
On the whole, there was not much difference between
the total zymotic death-rate of the year 1888 and that of
1887. There was an increase, of deaths due to hooping
cough, from 2928 to 2987; of deaths due to diphtheria,
from 961 to 1301; and of deaths due to enteric fever, from
672 to 720. But on the other hand deaths from measles
fell from 2894 to 2401 ; and deaths from scarlet fever, from
1447 to 1209. There were 9 deaths from small pox in each
year.
The populations of London and its five groups of
districts, as determined at the Census of 1881, are subjoined
in Table I. :—
Table I.—Populations of London and of its Groups of
Districts at Census of 1881.
London
West D.
North D.
Central D.
East D.
South D.
3,816,483
669,633
905,947
282,238
692,738
1,265,927