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than those of local causation—that must have had
a predominant part in the bringing about of the low
death rates that are so noticeable here and over the
country at large, were the favourable weather conditions
and especially the succession of mild winters
that we have enjoyed, owing to which a large number
of aged people were, so to speak, living on sufferance,
and in that way assisting in keeping apart the
extremes of population and the number of deaths,
adding to the population and lessening the bills of
mortality.
Zymotic Diseases.—By this is meant the seven
chief epidemic diseases, and the deaths registered as
being due to them are as follows:—Small-pox, 0;
Measles, 2; Whooping-cough, 4; Diphtheria, 1;
Enteric-fever, 1; Scarlet-fever, 1; Diarrhœa, 9; or
18 in all. This shows a death rate of 1.03, while
that for England and Wales is 173.
Births.—The births are actually higher in point
of numbers, 356, than at any time during the last
11 years, and are in excess of the average of the ten
preceding years by 46; this is due to the considerable
increase in Tolworth of the population, the births
there this year being 138 against an average of 88,
and in Hook and Southborough 46 against an average
of 35.7; in Surbiton they are below the average,
being 172 against 187 (see Table II.).
The following Table shows how these births are
distributed. Notwithstanding the increase this year
9