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53
Determined in this way, the intraparochial mortality for the
year has been 16.9; including the estimated hospital deaths, 18;
and the Workhouse and Infirmary deaths 22 per 1,000. But I
feel certain that these estimates are too high; and in fact, the
Vestry, who are always ready to do everything to advance the
sanitary state of the parish, having agreed to pay for the
exact returns of extra parochial deaths which the RegistrarGeneral
has kindly consented to furnish, I find that these
amounted to 44 for the first quarter of the present year, and
this is a heavy quarter. I consider that by adding 200 to the
deaths occurring in the parish, which makes the mortality 19.8,
say 20 per 1,000, we obtain the true rate of mortality. The
mortality for all London during the year was 20.4; that of the
West Districts 19.5; for the North Districts 19.1; for the
Central Districts 23.2; for the East Districts 24.1; and for the
South Districts 19.4. Hence taking the highest estimate of the
mortality of Clerkenwell, it is below the average of its own
group of districts, as well as much below the worst districts.
But it is really monstrous to compare the mortality of the most
densely massed, if not overcrowded Central Districts, especially
when, as the School Board inspector says, over 30 per cent of
the parents are out of work, 40 per cent of the poor children
come to school without a breakfast, and 40 per cent without a
dinner, with that of the sparse and scattered population of other
districts of the metropolis, where ample food and every care and
luxury are present. In this comparison, Clerkenwell, with its
180 persons per acre, has to compete with Kensington and its 79,
and Marylebone (Cavendish Square) with its 103 per acre. And
everyone knows that the class of occupants is totally different.
In future years, this matter will be put upon a positive basis.
The number of deaths arising from the principal zymotic
diseases in 1883, was 215; being 45 less than in the preceding
year.
The number and the causes of the zymotic deaths taking
place in Clerkenwell during the last ten years, are exhibited in
the following table:—