11
Examination of this table shows that there has been a general steady increase
in the total number of deaths recorded from 1848 to 1896, with certain
sharp fluctuations in 1864-1865 and 1877-1878. Froml893 to 1900 there was a
sudden rise and then a more gradual fall with slight fluctuations, and from 1907
onwards the total mortality has shown a more sudden drop. Enquiry shows that
in the past a sudden rise in the total number of deaths in Bombay City was co-
incident with the occurrence of scarcity in certain of: the rural districts. This
was the case in 1854, 1863—1866, 1875 -1878, 1896—1901 and more recently
in 1906. At these periods the city population was augmented by large numbers
of people seeking employment or relief. The occurrence of acute famine in
1877 and again in 1893—1901 led to the inflax of enormous numbers of
destitute refugees whose presence served to swell the total mortality to most
alarming proportions. Plague was first recognized in 1896 and the epidemic,
which broke out that year and every year since, has raised the total mortality
of the City considerably.
31. Seasonal Mortality.—Until about 16 years ago the deaths occurring
in the City were almost equally distributed between the dry and wet seasons, as
shown by the following table, but since 1895 an excess of deaths has taken
place in the period from December to May.
Year.
1863
1861*
1865*
1866*
1S;)7
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
187*
1875
1S76
1S77
1878
1879
18S1
S81
1882
18S3
1884
1S85
1686
1SS7
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
18:13
1891.
1895
1396
1897
1898
1893
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904)
1905
1906
1307
190S
1909
mo
Total doatlis
in year.
18,696
25,015
23,631
16,865
15,500
15,702
17,713
14,SS8
•• *
. • •
» • •
18,731!
20,783
33,511
26,999
22,527
21,146
21,856
20,468
23,530
22,542
21,850
20,074
20,513
23,048
20,231
23,501
20,178
22,802
26,908
24,655
83,050
47,475
51,617
50,434
79,350
59,945
43,414
50,513
42,676
47,762
52,874
!
38,687
38,271
3i,878
34,933
D-iatlis in six
mouths June
to November.
9 ; 649
10,680
10,572
7,002
7,024
7,595
7,963
7,266
8.553
S,707
15 735
13,461
3 0,332
9,467
10,899
9,3tiS
11,113
11,154
10,551
9,S96
10,340
13,250
9,271
11,725
12,280
11,075
13,456
11,413
15,174
18,478
16,642
16,989
28,851
20,365
17,513
14,349
15,859
14,871
20,611
16,422
15,485
14,331
15,911.
Percentage.
51-56
42-39
36-93
41-52
45-32
48-37
44-95
48-80
45-65
41-89
47-Oi
49 86
48-08
4477
49-87
45-77
47-23
49-48
48-2)
49-30
50-41
57-49
45-83
49 -S?
46 91
4S57
50-01
46-29
45-91
3S92
32-24
30-10
36-36
33-97
36-17
28-41
37-16
3114
38-98
42 45
40-39
41-10
45-56
Deaths in six
ni mths Decem-
ber to May.
9,047
14,335
18,059
1>,863
8,476
8,107
9,750
7,622
. •• >«•
.» .. •
• • •
10,181
] 2,0 76
1 7,746
13,538
11,695
11,679
10,957
11,100
12,417
11,388
11,299
11,178
10,173
• • •
"9,798
10,960
11,776
13,898
11,727
13,4-52
13,242
17,S76
28,997
34,975
39,445
50,499
39,580
30,901
3ö,164
26,819
3^891
32,238
22,265
22,813
20,044
19,01.9
Percentage.
43-39
57-31
63-07
58-48
54-6S
51-63
55-04
51-20
54-35
5S-11
52-96
50-11
51-92
55-23
50-13
54-23
52-77
50 52
51-61
50-70
4-9-59
42-51
01-17
50-11
h 3-09
51-43
49-99
53-71
54-09
61-08
67-76
09-90
03-64
0003
63*83
71-59
62-S4
fi 8 -86
61-01
57-55
59-61
58-90
54-44