[Report 1898] / Medical Officer of Health, Alnwick (Union) R.D.C.

  • Alnwick (England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1898] / Medical Officer of Health, Alnwick (Union) R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The birtb rat* is lower than last year, but as it is one half greater than the de*th-rate and as the infantile mortality is considerably reduced it must be regarded as satisfactory. The death-rate for the year 1898 is considerably higher than that for 1896. yet, paradoxical as it may seem to say so. in seme ways it is better. To under- stand this it must be remembered that a death-rate must not be considered entirely from the stand point of quantity, but also from that of quality, i.e.. not entirely as to the number of deaths, but also as to the ages at which the deaths occur. In 1898 the infantile mortality shows a marked decrease and the senile mortality a great increase. Birth-rate Death-rate > per 1000 per 1000 Births per annum Deaths per annum 1896 330 27.10 181 14.86 From the above it will be seen that the births in 1898 are respectively 25 and 30 under those in 1897 and 1896. while the deaths in 1898 are respectively 25 and 11 over those in 1897 and 1896. Of the deaths 103 were of males and 89 of females, the disparity being caused by the deaths caused by accidents were especially drowning from which the male sex suffered almost exclusively. Here it is well to remember that the death-rate of the district has been adversely affected hy the deaths which were caused by drowning in the shipwrecks which occurred on our coast during the autumn storms. The following table shows the distribution of the deaths as regards the sub districts, and compares with the two preceeiug years :— Wark worth. Embleton. Alnwick. 1895 101 63 12 1897 96 61 10 1898 100 82 10 This shows a slightly increased number of deaths in the W ark worth sub-district, a considerable increase in the Embleton sub-district, while the number in the Alnwick sub-district stands still. The deaths may also be analysed with regard to age at death, and for comparison I give the two preceding years:— 1 5 15 25 year years years • years 65- Under and and and and years 1 under under under under and year 6 15 25 65 over. 1896 43 14 11 11 40 53 1897 43 12 8 10 47 47 1898 36 8 8 13 54 73 The information conveyed by this table is fairly satisfactory, showing, as it does, a decreased infantile mortality and an increase of the number of deaths at a time when, in the course of nature, death is more to be expected. It may be here noted that in Warbwortb