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11
Table V. shows the vital statistics during 7 years.
The population increased during the 10 years before
the census of 1871, on the average of 2,500 annually,
and there is every reason to believe the same rate is
going on, for nearly the same number of new houses
are built every year, about 250, and an immigration
takes place from other parts of the metropolis to the
newly-built streets in this parish. The excess of 800
births above the deaths, will not alone account for the
large annual addition to the population.
The death rate remains about stationary, fluctuating
from 18 to 20 annually per 1,000 of the population,
for reasons before explained, page 5, it is very low.
The birth rate is from 27 to 30 per 1,000, or about the
usual average.
It is gratifying to find the zymotic or epidemic
forms of diseases rather diminish than otherwise, both
in amount and in proportion.
Since 1868, although more than 18,000 persons
have been added to the population, there is no increase
under this head. I am however inclined to believe
tubercular deaths are slightly tending to increase.
The number of deaths of young children remain
nearly stationary. Looking at the deaths at ages
between 20 and 60, it appears that in 1868 and 1869,
they were 53 and 63 in every 10,000, and rose up to
73 in 1874.
The number of deaths in aged persons, 80 and
upwards, seems also to increase. The general result is,
that sanitary measures keep down deaths from preventible
causes, whilst more life is preserved, more deaths
occur from natural causes, and at later period of life.