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there are large numbers of our population (and those at the most
unfavourable age-periods) who are absent at the Census enumeration
lodged in various workhouses, hospitals, etc., outside the Parish.
From this it follows that the population of Clerkenwell is not
credited with these numbers, while the deaths from that class
which this year reach the number of 553 are of course recorded
against us. It is clear that if we added on all persons in all such
institutions to our population, our population would be considerably
increased, though the number of deaths returned would be
precisely the same as at present. The result would be that our
total death-rate would be lower.
The second point is this. If we take the total Clerkenwell
death rate and the intra-parochial death-rate and compare each
with similiar rates over a number of years we find that there has
been a very decided, though gradual, decline. Thus:—

But after taking these two circumstances fully into consideration
it must still be admitted that our death-rate is considerably above
the London average. About 200 more deaths occurred in Clerkenwell
than would have taken place had our death-rate been the
average for London.
The cause for this high death-rate is probably a composite one,
including many external circumstances and agencies. It is due,
that is to say, rather to a set of conditions than to one condition.
Therefore to reduce such a death-rate requires not one remedy but
many. The Report on the Sanitary Condition of Clerkenwell issued
by the London County Council in 1897, set forth a number of
matters calling for attention or amendment. Briefly, these may be
B