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These four separate mortality rates are calculated on the actual
number of births and resident infant deaths registered in each of
the four quarters of the year, and are not worked out to equal
annual rates as is done for the quarterly birth-rate and ordinary
death-rate.
The infant mortality rate in any district is far more accurate
as a statement of fact than any other of the various rates included
in vital statistics, as it is based on registered births and
deaths, and is not in any way influenced by possible mistakes in
the estimate of the total population. But even it can be altered
at will by taking into account or leaving out certain factors for
which no provision is made in the official tables. One at least
of these factors has a very material influence on the rate in this
particular district. It has already been explained that nonresident
deaths are always excluded in calculating a death-rate.
Non-resident births are included because they would otherwise not
be counted at all. Therefore in working out the infant mortality
which is based on total births and non-resident deaths, this district
has an unfair advantage, due to the fact that a large number of
non-resident births occur each year in the Brentford Workhouse
which are credited to Isleworth. On the other side the infant
mortality rate given in Table I. is unfair to this district as it includes
the deaths of 17 non-resident infants.
To arrive at the correct official rate, all non-resident deaths
are excluded, but the number of births is taken as the total