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31
Notwithstanding, however, the greater mortality of
1878 and 1879, the death-rates from all causes during
the quinquennium 1875-79 favourably compare with
those of the previous quinquennial or decennial
periods, as will be seen on referring to Table II. With
a larger estimated population, the deaths of infants
under one year and of children under five years of
age were absolutely fewer in 1879 than in the years
1878, '76, or '75. Of the 2,912 children born in the
parish 403 died during their first year of life, being
20.8 per cent. of the total deaths, and 13.8 per cent.
of the registered births, or 208 per 1,000 deaths and
138 per 1,000 births. In the 20 largest English
towns the corresponding rate was 151, and in London
148, per 1,000 registered births. The total deaths
of children under five years of age were 677. This
represents 35 per cent. of the entire mortality—that
is to say, of every three deaths which happened in
the parish during the past year, one was of a child
under five years of age. This mortality, though
greatly in excess of what it ought to have been, has
in London during the last eight years, 1871-78, declined
7 per cent. A still greater reduction, amounting
to 25 per cent., has, during the same period, been
effected at the ages between five and ten years.
Zymotic Diseases.
From the seven principal zymotic diseases 243