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5
MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT.
Gentlemen
The number of the population of London and its sub-districts
having been correctly ascertained since the last annual report
made to this Board, I am now able to present the statistics of
mortality in a form of greater accuracy, so far as respects the
comparative tables, than has been possible since the previous
census. During the past ten years the number of inhabitants of
Saint Saviour's District has considerably diminished. The total
population is now 30,250. This number being deducted from
that given in 1861, shows a decrease of 5,367. In the parish of
Saint Saviour a diminution appeared both in 1861 and 1871,
while in Christchurch the returns show a continual increase
until the last enumeration. During the past twenty years the
total decrease of the population of Saint Saviour has been at the
rate of 20, and of Christchurch 8 per cent.
There were during the year 1,055 births, and 840 deaths. The
births were 65 fewer, and the deaths 91 in excess of the number
registered in 1870. It should be observed that the mortality of
1870 was exceptionally small, and although during the past year
it was large, it was nevertheless a very little above the decennial
average. That this excess of mortality in the district is not due
to epidemic disease is an encouraging fact, the deaths under
this head being three fewer than those of the previous year.
Excluding Small Pox from the calculation, the decrease would
have been considerable. From Fever and Diarrhoea alone the
deaths registered were 53 fewer than in 1870.
The deaths in the Metropolis referred to Diarrhoea in 1871 far
exceeded the number registered in any year since 1859. In
Saint Saviour's District there was a diminution of 22. As fever and
Diarrhoea are the best sanitary tests of the condition of a locality,
this is a most satisfactory sign of improvement in your district.
The increased mortality is therefore due to diseases which it is
impossible to specify in the limited space of a report, and to the
prevalence of Small Pox. The existence of a workhouse in your
district, exclusively devoted to the reception of aged men, will
always cause a comparatively high rate of mortality for the
whole district to be exhsltcd. The death rate in London was
nearly 25 per thousand, in the South a little more than 24, while
in this district it was above 27. But it the numbers in the woikhouse
and hospital arc eliminated from the population, as well as
the deaths from no the Registrar's books, it will be seen that the
death rate of the district is only a small fraction beyond 24 per
thousand. Taking the inmates of the workhouse at an average
of 450, the death rate would be exactly 220 per thousand, which,
when introduced into the estimate for the whole district, gives
an apparent excess of mortality as compared with othee lcalities.