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that, in 1909, 76 fewer deaths took place in that area than would have
occurred among the same number of people located in St. James Street,
and that 266 fewer people have died in 1909 than would have in 1901.
A lowered death-rate is a feature of all the Wards, but the least
noticeable is that in Hoe Street, the Ward offering the least scope for
improvement. Its favoured position, and the general better social
condition of its people, as reflected in its general and infantile mortality
rates, have been referred to in previous reports.
Bearing in mind that St. James Street has a large population of the
poorest of our people, and a high birth-rate, its general mortality figure
is a great improvement on previous years, and equally with the other
portions of the district has shared in the general improvement.

There are 33 more deaths in 1909 than in 1908, and their percentage
to the total deaths in the various Wards differs considerably. This is
accounted for by the epidemic prevalence of Measles in 1908 being
followed in 1909 by Whooping Cough, causing many more deaths in
those Wards previously free of the disease than in those already affected
Of the 46 deaths from Whooping Cough, 18 occurred in the Northern
11 in Wood Street, and 5 in the Hoe Street Wards, where no death
had taken place in 1908, and the unfavourable rates of these districts
are thus explained.
The improvement of 1908, noticed in the poorest area, has been well
maintained, owing to its freedom from Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria and
Diarrhœal diseases.