View report page

13
between the births and deaths But the question in a rapidly-fluctuating
town-population is far more complex. In Shoreditch there has been a
ceaseless ebb and flow of emigration and immigration. In 110 one year
are we dealing with the same population as during the preceding year.
We may indeed be administering to the sanitary needs of the same
number, or of a steadily growing number of inhabitants. But the individual
component parts of the population are far from being the same.
This ever proceding change defies accurate tracing; and to a certain
extent vitiates many conclusions, and disturbs many comparisons in
vital statistics.
During the ten years running from 1851 to 1861, the aggregate
excess of births over deaths amounted to 18,402, a number approaching
the total increase of population. But it would be very unsafe to conclude
that the difference between this excess and the total increase is solely
accounted for by immigration. It is the resultant of many complicated
movements.
Between 1841 and 1851, the relations between the excess of births
over deaths, and of the excess of population above the gain in births
were very different. Thus the excess of births over deaths was only 11060,
leaving 14636 persons to be accounted for as the balance of migration
movements. It may be inferred that during these ten years the influx of
new comers in Shoreditch was at its height; and that during the last ten
years, the district has been acquiring a more settled character.
%
The population now consists of 61,832 males, and 67,507 females,
shewing an excess of 5672 females. The excess of females is much
greater in some other districts of London. The staple trade of Shoreditch,
comprising various dealings and manufactures in wood, creates a
large demand for male labour, whilst the proportion of female domestic
servants is probably less than in some other districts.
In 1851. In 1861.
The inhabited houses numbered 17,231
The uninhabited ditto 584
The building ditto 38
The gross-mortalily in the year ending on the 29th day of December,
1860, amounted to 2970. It will be useful to apply the primary test of