INFLUENZA’S RAVAGES

Evening Star, Issue 17084, 1 July 1919, Page 5

INFLUENZA’S RAVAGES

37,697 DEATHS IN SIX MONTHS. For the second time since the establishment of civil registration, the registered deaths for Britain in the last quarter (ended March 31) exceeded the births. The figures for England and Wales wore: Deaths 191,922 Births 144,920 Loss ... ... 47,002 This natural decrease of population compares badly with the natural increases (by excess of births over deaths) of 51,982, 14,810, and 24.303 in the first quarters of 1916, 1917, and 1918 respectively. Tho quarterly return of tho RegistrarGeneral shows "also that the births were 16,855 fewer than in the preceding quarter, and 17,388 fewer than in tho first quarter of 1913. Males numbered 74,548, females 70,372, and t-ho total of births registered corresponded to an annual birth rate of 15.6 per 1,000 of tho population in 1917. Deaths in the same quarter included 97,621 males and 94,301 females. Influenza was either a primary or a contributory cause of death in no fewer than 37,697 cases. In t-ho three months ended December 31, 1918, ihe natural decrease of population for the whole of tho United Kingdom was 90,130. Births were 206,358, and deaths 296.488. Adding this decrease to the figures for the first quarter of 1919 (which ore for England and Wales only— Scottish and Irish returns may make tho loss heavier), the decline in population is 137,132 in t-ho six months. The return also records that the number of persons married in England and Wales during tho fourth quarter of 1918 showed a decrease of 7,842 compared with tho number in the preceding quarter, but was 1.126 greater than in the fourth quarter of 1917. In tho United Kingdom the number of persons married during tho quarter wa-fl 178,108.