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particularly in the case of the very young and of the
very aged. Such an increase of mortality is obviously
due to meteorological conditions; and although these
are now-a-days foretold with increasing accuracy,
against them precautions only can be adopted, as over
them no immediate and direct control can be exerted.
Assuming the existence of the ordinary conditions of
life, the healthiness of a district or of a population can
best be judged, and is at the same time more fairly
indicated, by the decennial rate, and that more especially
in connexion with zymotic diseases.
During the 52 weeks of the registration year, ending
Saturday, 28th December, 1878, 2,871 births, and
1,927 deaths were registered in Paddington. Deducting
166 deaths of non-parishioners in the two Hospitals in
the parish from the total deaths (1,927), the natural
increase of population from the excess of births over
deaths is seen to be 1,110. To this increase must be
added the further number contributed by immigration.
The number of inhabitants of the parish in the middle
of last year may be estimated at 111,527, allowing
72,525 to St. Mary's Sub-district, and 39,002 to
St. John's.
Of the 2,871 births, which were 50 fewer than in
the previous year, 2,144 were registered in the Subdistrict
of St. Mary's, and 727 in that of St. John's;
the number of male children being 1,539, and of female
1,332. The proportion of the sexes was 100 males to
87 females, whereas in the Metropolis it was 100 males
to 96 females.