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16
Birth-rate. The birth-rate for the year was 310 per 1000, a rate 13
per 1000 lower than 1904, though higher than the average for the last 10 years.
This birth-rate is the correct one, based on the population estimated
according to the official method and the total number of registered births in
the district, but it is somewhat misleading.
It is usual in all places to exclude non-resident deaths in calculating the
death-rate. It is practically universal to include all non-resident births in
calculating the birth-rate, the object of every Medical Officer of Health being
to make the one as low and the other as high as possible. Probably in most
districts the inclusion of non-resident births makes but little difference to the
birth-rate, but in this it has considerable effect, owing to the Infirmary for
the Brentford Union being in Isleworth.
If the 46 non-resident births were excluded, the birth-rate for the year
would be reduced from 310 to 29 6 per 1000.
Another and more important factor to consider is the estimate of the
population on which the calculation of the rate is made.
If the higher (and probably more correct) estimate is taken, the rate
becomes still further reduced.
On the figures available it is possible to calculate four different birth-rates
for the year as follows:—
1. All births registered.
(a). Mathematical population 31.0
(b). Eate book ,, 29 3
2. Eesident births only.
(a). Mathematical population 29'6
(b). Rate book ,, 28.0
Of these four rates the first (31.0) is the one to be used in comparing
this district with the official figures for the country generally, but the last
(28.0) is in all probability more accurate.