DEATHS.

The deaths registered in 1874 were 2,696, viz., 2,102 in the Town sub-district and 594 in Brompton. After re-distribution of the deaths in the Workhouse and Hospital (the deaths in the latter institution remaining as a compensation allowance for the deaths of parishioners occurring outside the parish), the numbers in the respective districts stand thus: Town, 2,147; Brompton, 548. The death rate was 19-5 per 1,000 (all London 22.5), the death rate in the Town sub-district being 20.4, and in Brompton 16.6. Thirteen hundred and forty-seven males died, and 1,349 females; the deaths of females being only two above the males, although the females exceed the males in the population by no fewer than 25,520. The death rate of males was 23.9, of females 16.5 per 1,000. The general death rate in the parish, excluding the deaths of non-parishioners at the Brompton Hospital and the deaths at St. Joseph’s House, Notting-hill, was 18.3 per 1,000. The subjoined table shows the number of deaths in each quarter and in each district, excluding the deaths of non-parishioners in the Hospital at Brompton:

Kensington Town
Sub-District.

Brompton
Sub-District.

Males.

Females.

Total.

Males.

Females.

Total.

GrandTotal.

1st Quarter

295

307

602

63

64

127

729

2nd

218

227

445

55

53

108

553

3rd

238

245

483

49

56

105

588

4th

294

278

572

58

71

129

701

Total

1045

1057

2102

225

244

469

2571

The deaths under one year of age (762) bear the proportion of 17.5 per cent. on the registered births (London 15.5), and they were equal to 28.5 per cent. of the total deaths (London 24.6.) The deaths under five (1,188) were equal to 27.7 per cent. on the number of births, and to 45.4 per cent of the total deaths; the relative proportions in all London being 26.3 and 41.6. The deaths at 60 years of age and upwards (582) formed 21.7 per cent. of the total mortality in Kensington, the relative proportion in all London being 21.6.

Impressed with the imperfections of mere general death rates and proportional relations as given above, I have, at considerable labour, estimated the population in groups of ages, and worked out the death rate for each group—showing the number of deaths per 1,000 persons living, as follows:

Age.

Estimated Population.

Actual number
of deaths.

Deaths per 1,000
persons living.

Under

1

3,762

762

202.8

1 and under

2

3,153

223

70.9

2 „

5

9,413

203

21.6

(0 „ 5)

(16,328)

(1,188)

(73.)

5 „

15

24,910

105

4.2

15 „

25

29,262

105

3.6

25 „

35

25,822

148

5.7

35 „

45

17.267

151

8.7

45 „

55

12,145

198

16.3

55 „

65

7,154

199

27.8

65 „

75

3,754

232

62.1

75 „

85

1,199

183

153.8

85 „

95

149

54

400

95 and upwards

10

8

138,000

2571

Since the preceding Table was worked out I have become acquainted with an interesting and valuable paper by Mr. Thomas A. Welton, F.S.S., on “The Effect of Migrations upon Death Rates,” read before the Statistical Society on the 15th June, 1875, and which enables me to supplement it by the following Table, in which are contrasted the death rates at certain ages in England and Wales, and in the Metropolis during the 10 years 1861–70, and in the Parish of Kensington in 1874, calculated on the number of deaths per 1,000 persons living at the several ages.

Place.

Age.

0–5

15–25

25–35

55–65

65–75

England & Wales (10 years)

68.5

7.3

..

..

..

London ( 1861–70)

81.9

6.3

9.8

38.8

75.4

Kensington (1874)

73.0

3.6

5.7

26.8

62.1

It must be obvious that the truest mode of calculating death rates is that used in the above Tables, and the result of such calculations is by no means unfavourable to the character for salubrity of the parish of Kensington. Did time permit of following out the method for the sexes, and in the two sub-districts, the results would, I doubt not, be very much more favourable for Brompton, and for the female sex, than they are for the entire parish, and for both sexes.