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mortality of your District. This number represents a death rate of
24.7 per 1,000 living for the year, and the calculations and Tables
in the following pages are based upon it. The Metropolitan
death rate for 1878 was 23.5 per 1,000. The death rate of
your District, therefore, was 1.2 above that of the Metropolis. Considering
that a very large proportion of the population of this
District are persons in humble circumstances, exposed to all
vicissitudes of temperature, literally gaining their bread by the sweat
of their brow, frequently out of employment, and that at the most
inclement time of the year, when they, their wives, and little ones
must severely feel the sharp pains of hunger, and the biting nip of
cold, one would expect to find the death rate of the District rather
in excess of that of the Metropolis. Warm clothing, nutritious food,
well-built and ventilated houses, are great factors in reducing the
death rate of a District. The converse of the proposition is equally
true.
During the year there were registered 2,240 births, which number
indicates a birth rate of 36 per 1,000 of the population; there
were also registered 544 marriages. By referring to Table I. you
will find that the births and deaths were both above the average of
the ten years 1868—77, while the marriages were below the
average.
Of the total number of deaths 25 per cent. were those of children
under 1 year, and 45 per cent. were those of children under 5
years of age. Although these numbers must convey to your minds
a feeling of at least regret that the infant mortality should be of