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44
was an increase of 147 deaths in Fulham. The increase of
mortality is to be explained by (1) the great increase of population,
the result of natural increase and immigration; (2)the very low mortality
in 1877, owing chiefly to the high temperature during its
last three months, a large number of delicate and aged persons
having been spared who would have inevitably died duringan ordinary
cold and damp season, and (3)the exceptionally hot summer
and very prolonged period of cold and damp weather during
the end of last year. Extremes of temperature are mostly productive
of increased mortality, and more particularly so when
accompanied by sudden changes. The number of deaths of
infants under one year of age was 648, of which 30 occurred
in St. Peters, 335 in St. Pauls and 283 in Fulham, against 34,
in St. Peters, 218, in St. Pauls, and 229 in Fulham, during the
previous year. The deaths under one year of age, were equal
to 27.6 per cent of the total deaths registered and 7.9 percent,
of the total registered births. The per centage of deaths under
one year of agein the whole metropolis was 24.4 to the total deaths
registered, and 16.3 to the total registered births. In the three
sub-districts the percentage of deaths under one year of age to
the total deaths and total births respectively was St. Peters 21.7
and 13.5, St. Pauls, 28.8 and 17.1 ; Fulham 27.0 and 19.7; the
per centage of these deaths therefore in St. Peters was under
that of the Metropolis, but in St. Pauls and Fulham above. The
number of deaths at 6O years of age and upwards was 446, of
which there were 38 in St. Peters, 230 in St. Pauls, and 178 in
Fulham. Against 38 in St. Peters, 108 in St. Pauls, and 178
in Fulham the previous year. These deaths were equal to 19
per cent, of the total deaths, while the per centage in the whole
Metropolis was equal to 20.3 per cent on the whole mortality.
This per centage being lower than the Metropolitan is not in our
favour, as a high per centage of mortality at 60 years of age,
and upwards, as compared with the total deaths, is a favourable
sign. The infantile mortality was large last year, and it is an
admitted fact that by the infantile mortality we are able to judge
in a great measure as to the health of a district. Still so many
are the circumstances that have to be taken into consideration
in judging of the health of a locality that it would not be correct
to pronounce an unfavourable opinion owing to such a fact
alone. On our estimated population we have only 23.7 persons
to an acre, while there is an average of 47.5 to the whole Metropolis;
still so large a proportion of this district is as yet almost
totally uncovered that the inhabited portions are very