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or in other words we may estimate that quite 170 persons lived, who in the former
decenniads would have died from “fever” and that, as it is computed that for every
fatal case there are 4.4 recoveries, no less than 748 people have in this time been rescued
by your sanitation from being ''down with fever, and the poor rates comparatively
lessened. The average mortality from scarlatina also diminished by 33 percent.,
whilst that from small-pox, owing to the recent epidemic, was unfortunately augmented
by 50 per cent. Although some “persons will find in this fact a support of their
“opinion as to the usefulness of vaccination, to most minds the truer lesson will appear
“to be the necessity of enforcing vaccination with greater rigour, and with greater
“security for its efficiency.” (vide Registrar-General’s Report, 188).
Population.
The Census of 1881 gave our population as 36,024. an increase of 8,928 beyond
that returned by the enumerators for 1871, but to this number must be added the
nomad floating population of the ships in the river and docks, and of the numerous
barges and canal boats which visit our waters, and an allowance must also be made for
the increase between the date of the Census and the middle of the year, as well as for
the notorious though unavoidable inaccuracy of the local returns, consequent upon
the reluctance (for fear of sanitary inspection) of the informants in many houses
taking in lodgers to state the actual number of persons usually sleeping there. I have
gone at some length into this matter, and consider, following the lines of my predecessors,
that our population is again under-estimated, and that it may now be
reckoned at least 40,900.
Marriages,
323 Marriages were celebrated in our Parish, or 18.3 per 1000. Our Marriage
Rate, like that of all London, was below the average; it was almost identical with that
of the previous year. A similar decline was noted on the Continent.
Births.
The Births registered amounted to 1403; the Birth Rate may be taken as 36.3
per 1000, and its diminution as a sequence of the low Marriage Hate.
Deaths.
The total number of Deaths registered was 855; the corrected number, nonparishioners
being deducted, but a proportional number being added for our people
dying in public institutions, was 687, or 16.7 per 1000. The gross Death rate
was 20.9 per 1000).