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29
the year 1872, they did not reach, on the average,
twelve a week. The whole number of lives saved,
as against the average deaths of the Parish, which
has been 730, is one hundred and ten. This
is a very large saving, and one which I would remind
you is entirely independent of the decrease of the
population.
The death rate is therefore but one in fifty-one of
the whole population, or 19.6 in the 1.000. Although
not a death rate incapable of diminution, it shows a
considerable decrease in the mortality of preceding
years. It also shows very favourably in comparison
with the death rate of all London for 1872, which
was 21.5 in the 1,000.
Comparing the death rate of St. James's with
other cities and towns in England in 1872, out of
seventy of the largest cities and towns in England
there are only seven that presented a lower rate of
mortality, and these were Cheltenham, Hastings,
Maidstone, Chatham, Reading, Oxford, and Colchester.
The mortality of St. James's, Westminster,
with its crowded courts and streets, and over crowded
Berwick Street division, was less than that of
Brighton, Devonport, Southampton, Chester, Worcester,
York, Tynemouth, Exeter, Gosport, or
Plymouth. Its death rate is also less than that of
any of the great cities of Europe, whose statistics
are supplied to the Registrar General.
The following table enables us to compare the
death rate of 1872 with the two last years, arranged
in order that the age at death may be seen,