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7
influence, and tend to lower the death-rate in the
district of St. John's. The question as to the
effect of immigrations and emigrations on the rates
of mortality, has had some attention from T. A.
Welton, F.S.S., whose researches show that in
estimating the comparative salubrity, or otherwise
of districts, a risk of falling into serious error
might take place if this be not kept in view. For
instance, large towns have naturally a mortality
higher than the general English rate, but as pointed
out in both Liverpool and London the rate of mortality
was actually lower between the ages of 10 to
35, than in adjoining country districts. This statement
will be easily understood when we know that
there are nearly 100,000 female domestic servants in
London between ages of 10 to 35—most are immigrants—for
London girls do not take well to service.
I have also shown in the Appendix that in populated
streets, vast numbers of adult males are from the
country, and doubtless some have parents still living,
to whom they return when sick. The country
therefore takes back disabled persons, many of
whom die there; thus, the mortality returns of
counties around London show abnormal rates at
middle ages. It is fearful to think how great
would be the real mortality of urban populations,
if all these deaths were taken into account as they
ought to be, in estimating the insalubrious agency
of cities upon the working population.
* On the effects of migrations on local rates of mortality,
C. and E. Layton, Fleet Street.