[From Manx Quarterly, #3 November 1907]

 REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S REPORT.

Manx Marriages, Births, Deaths, Vaccinations, Meteorology, etc., in 1906.

The Registrar-General of births, deaths, marriages, and vaccinations in the Isle of Man (Mr Herbert Story) has submitted to the Lieut.-Governor his thirtieth annual report — that concerning the year 1906. It is exceedingly difficult to render interesting a document dealing in large measure with dry figures; yet has Mr Story unfolded a tale which is at once readable and profitable. At the outset particulars of the area; number of houses, and population of the Island, and of the various districts, towns, and parishes, are given, and it is then explained that, for purposes of registration, the Island is divided into the following registration districts: — (1) The town of Peel and parish of German; (2) the parish of Patrick (including Foxdale) ; (3) the parish of Michael; (4) the parish of Ballaugh ; (5) the town of Ramsey and parish of Maughold; (6) the parish of Lezayre; (7) the parishes of Andreas, Bride, and Jurby ; (8) the borough of Douglas and parish of Conchan; (9) the parish of Lonan; (10) the parishes of Braddan and Marown ; (11) the town of Castletown; (12) the parishes of Malew and Santon ; and (13) the parishes of Arbory and Rushen.

Following is a general summary for the year in these terms: — "The marriages registered in 1906 numbered 351; the births 1,123, and the deaths 894. The marriage rate per thousand of the population was 6.4; the birth rate, 20.5; and the death rate, 16.3. The excess of births over deaths was 229, or 4.1 per thousand of the population. These rates in the immediately preceding year (1905) were Marriage, 6.0; birth, 20.8; death, 18.2; and excess of births over deaths, 2.5 per thousand of the population."

In order that readers may institute comparisons, the following rates per

thousand of the population are extracted from one of the tables: —
Yearly average, five years 1879-1883: Marriages, 6.51; births, 27.5; deaths, 20.6.
Yearly average, five years 1884-1888: Marriages, 6.97; births, 28.1; deaths, 20.6.
Yearly average, five years 1889-1893: Marriages, 6.81; births, 26.4; deaths, 19.8.
Yearly average, five years 1894-1898: Marriages, 7.1; births, 25.6; deaths, 19.4.
Yearly average, five years 1899-1903: Marriages, 6.5; births, 23.5; deaths, 18.9.

In 1904 the figures were as follow: Marriages, 6.3; births, 22.4; deaths, 18.7. The figures for 1905 and 1906 are given in the quoted general summary. In 1893, there was the highest marriage rate, 7.55, the lowest being 5.6 in 1903. The highest birth rate was 29.5 in 1889, while the lowest was 20.5 in 1906. In 1887 the highest death rate, 21.2, was recorded, the lowest, 16.3, being in 1906. It will be seen that the tendency has been for all the rates to fall. In the case of marriages, the high rates are coincident with the periods of prosperity — fictitious prosperity it may have been; while once the financial crash associated with the failure of Dumbell's Bank came about, there was a serious slump. During the last three years there has been a tendency for this rate to rise, which may perhaps be regarded as a sign that we in the Isle of Man are slowly recovering from the effects of the bank disaster. The falling death rate is a satisfactory feature of the report — it shows that, not before the time, some knowledge of the elementary laws of hygiene is being spread throughout the Island, and that local authorities are, either of their free will or as the result of pressure from the Local Government Board, doing something in the direction of enforcing the sanitary provisions of the Local Government Acts.

MARRIAGES.

The marriages registered in 1906 in the respective divisions of the Island were: — Western (comprising the town of Peel, and the parishes of German, Patrick, Michael, and Ballaugh), 40, or six above those registered in 1905; Northern (comprising the town of Ramsey, and the parishes of Maughold, Lezayre, Andreas, Bride, and Jurby), 46, or 21 below those registered in 1905; Eastern (comprising the borough of Douglas, and the parishes of Onchan, Lonan, Braddan, and Marown), 210, or 14 more than in 1905; and Southern (comprising the town of Castletown, and the parishes of Malew, Santon, Arbory, and Rushen), 55, or 20 more than in 1905.

In the towns of Peel, Ramsey, and Castletown, the figures were respectively 18, 7, and 5, against 17, 19, and 1 in the preceding year, 1905. In this connection it should be remembered that Castletown folk usually repair for purposes of marriage to the parish church of Malew. The Douglas marriages in 1906 numbered 109, or 14 more than the number in 1905. In 1906 the marriages registered in Douglas and the parish of Braddan numbered 182, as against 172 in 1905 — rather more than one-half of the total marriages registered in either year.

The marriages of bachelors and spinsters in 1906 constituted 87.2 per cent. of the total marriages; of bachelors and widows, 3.9 per cent.; of widowers and spinsters, 5.4 per cent.; and of widowers and widows, 3.4 per cent. The marriages of widowers exceeded in number those of widows by five.

Of the persons who married in 1906, 42 were under the age of 21 years, or 7 above the number in 1905. The men who in 1906 signed the marriage register with marks, instead of writing their names, were 6, or in the proportion of 1.7 in 100; while the illiterate women were 4, or in the proportion of 1.1 in 100. In no marriage both bridegroom and bride used that form of signature. As showing the advance of education, it may be mentioned that in 1884 — but 23 years ago — 60 men and 44 women among those married signed the marriage register with marks. In 22 of the marriages both parties used that form of signature.

The number of buildings in the Island registered for the solemnization of marriages — other than buildings in connection with the Established Church — was 25, these buildings being distributed as follows: — Peel district, one Wesleyan Methodist, two Primitive Methodist — total, three; Ramsey district, one Presbyterian Church of England, one Roman Catholic, one Wesleyan Methodist, one Primitive Methodist — total, four; Douglas district, one Presbyterian Church of England, one Congregational, one Roman Catholic, two Wesleyan Methodist, three Primitive Methodist, one Methodist New Connexion — total, nine; Castletown district, six Wesleyan Methodist, three Primitive Methodist — total, nine.

BIRTHS.

As to births, the following is, inter alia, remarked by Mr Story: — "The births registered in 1906, compared with the number registered in the immediately preceding year, 1905, show a decrease of 16 births, as against a decrease in 1905 of 88 births. The rate, therefore, continues to fall, and is 3.00 below the last quinquennial returns, and 7.4 below that for 1884-88."

The births registered in the Western Division were 119, or 28 less than the number registered in that division in the immediately preceding . year; in the Northern Division, 148, or 38 more than the number registered in 1905; in the Eastern Division, 687, or 5 more than in 1.905; and in the Southern Division, 144, or 12 less than in 1905. The birth rates of the several divisions were: — Western, 14.7; Northern, 19.3; Eastern, 23.6; and Southern, 16.7. These rates in the immediately preceding year, 1905, stood as follows: — Western, 18.2; Northern, 16.0; Eastern, 23.8; and Southern, 18.0.

The birth rates in 1906 in the several towns of the Island were: — Peel, 17.2; Ramsey, 19.2; Douglas, 27.3; and Castletown, 16.2 per thousand of the population living in 1906. The rates recorded in the year 1905 were: — Peel, 17.5; Ramsey, 16.9; Douglas, 26.7; and Castletown, 13.2. These rates show a decrease in Douglas and Ramsey ; there is an increase in Peel. In regard to the Douglas figures, it were well to carefully digest the explanation which comes hereafter in regard to population. 597 males and 526 females were born during the year. The illegitimate births in 1905 numbered 76, or one less than in the previous year.

ILLEGITIMACY.

Children born out of wedlock in the Isle of Man last year numbered 76 — an average figure. Of these, 5 were. born in the Western district, 15 in the Northern, 46 in the Eastern, and 10 in the Southern. This gives a percentage of illegitimate births to legitimate births of about 6.41. The percentages of illegitimate births to the legitimate births in the various towns and ancient parishes were roughly as follows: —

The average percentage for the towns is 6.44, while for the rural parishes it is 7.57. It should, however, be mentioned in connection with Braddan, which has the apparently high percentage of 19.15, that the Home for the Poor is situate in the parish, and that many single women from other districts, when about to give birth to children, resort through stress of poverty to the Home. They give birth to illegitimate children in the Home, and the Braddan rate is thereby very largely swelled.

DEATHS.

The death rates in 1906 for the several divisions of the Island were: — Western, 15.2 per 1,000 of the population of that division living; Northern, 17.1; Eastern, 17.4; and Southern, 12.7; against 14.8, 16.2, 20.5, and 15.7 recorded in the several divisions in the preceding year, 1905.

The apparent death rate in 1906 of the parish of Braddan was 33.1 (as against 38.1 in 1905); but after deducting from the total number of deaths (66) registered in that. parish, the deaths of persons belonging elsewhere who died at the Lunatic Asylum (14), at the Home for the Poor (24.), and at the White Hoe Isolation Hospital (6), the true death rate of the parish was 10.1, as against 8.7 in 1905.

The death rate in 1906 of the several towns of the Island was: — Peel, 17.2; Ramsey, 18.3; Douglas, 18.5; and Castletown, 12.7, to 1,000 of the population of those respective towns. The rate of 1905 was: — Peel, 16.6; Ramsey, 13.7; Douglas, 21.1; and Castletown, 16.2. The rate, therefore, in 1906 decreased considerably in Douglas and Castletown, but increased in Peel, while in Ramsey the increase was large.

It would appear that the fair sex excels in the matter of longevity. The death rate in 1906 of males was 27.1, and that of females, 15.6 per 1,000 living. In the preceding year, 1905, the death rate of males was 20.0, and that of females 16.6. The mean annual rate for the quinquennial period 1899-1903 was — males, 20.0; and females, 17.6.

Of persons attaining the age of 85 and upwards, 33 deaths (15 males and 18 females) were registered in 1906. These deaths were 8 below the number registered in the preceding year, and also in 1904. The registered deaths in 1906 of persons aged 65 and upwards were 324; of these 157 were male and 167 female deaths. These deaths were 11 below the number registered in the preceding year, 1905. Two persons, males both, died in 1906 at the age of 95 or upwards. In 1905 four such persons — also males — died.

The deaths in 1906 of children five to fifteen years of age were 70 (34 males and 36 females), as against 89 (44 males and 45 females) in 1905. In 1903 the deaths under one year were 79 males and 65 females — total 144, an increase over 1902 of 25. This mortality further rose to 85 males and 69 females — total 154, in 1904. In 1905 the death of infants under one year were 86 males and 53 females — total, 139. A further considerable decrease occurred in 1906, to 59 males and 52 females — total, 111. The deaths under five years in 1904 were 120 males and 99 females — total, 219. In 1905 the total was 223. In 1906 the numbers were 95 males and 83 females — total, 178. Mr Story piously hopes that this very large decrease (45) may be permanent. The order is rather a large one, but we are quite willing to back it.

The country is, as might be expected, healthier for residential purposes than is the town. Last year the death rate of the four towns of the Island was 17.9, as against 14.4 of the seventeen ancient parishes. 142 deaths took place in the towns to 100 deaths in the parishes. This is about ten more than the average, however.

CAUSES OF DEATH.

As to causes of death, it is satisfactory to note that no death due to smallpox was returned in 1906. Indeed, but one death from smallpox — in 1903 — has occurred in the period 1879-1906. Verily a wonderful immunity! In regard to measles, too, 1906 was a good year, for no deaths were registered as occurring from the disease during the year, as compared with 24 in 1905. The mortality from scarlet fever was, however, three during 1906, as against one in 1905. No death attributable to typhus fever has occurred in the Island within the period 1879-1906, with the exception in 1891. Seven deaths were registered as due to influenza in 1906, as against four in 1905. To whooping cough 15 deaths were assigned in 1906, being 10 more than in 1905. Diphtheria, though it abated in 1906 as compared with 1905, was far too prevalent. Eighteen deaths were ascribed to this disease, as against 36 in 1905, 2 in 1904, 6 in 1903, and 11 in 1902. There were in 1906 two deaths from enteric fever, being two fewer than in 1905. Diarrhoea was responsible for seven deaths in 1906, or one fewer than in the preceding year. To erysipelas one death was attributed in 1906.

With regard to the principal febrile diseases, it may generally be said that the tendency is for the mortality from them to diminish in the Isle of Man. The only noteworthy exception is diphtheria, which is apparently on the upward move.

To tuberculous diseases, in the aggregate, 120 deaths were attributed in the year 1906 (62 males and 58 females). Deaths from these diseases amounted to 13.4 per cent. of the deaths from all causes, and were in the proportion of 2.2 to 1,000 living.

Tuberculous phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis) was in 1906 assigned as the cause of death of 23 males and 30 females — in all 53; while phthisis (not otherwise defined) was certified in 27 cases (18 males and 9 females). The combined total of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis and phthisis (80) is less than that of 1905 by 12, and than that of 1904 by 57. Tuberculous disease; or, rather, the mortality from tuberculous disease, shows a tendency to diminish. In the years named the total deaths from all varieties of tuberculous disease were as follow: —

Tuberculous meningitis in 1906 was the cause of 11 deaths, being 3 less than in 1905. Tuberculous peritonitis was assigned as the cause of 5 deaths, as compared with 7 in 1905; and tabes mesenterica as that of 6, or 2 more than in the previous year. In 1906 no death was attributed to lupus, but as due to tubercle of other organs 7 deaths were registered; as due to general tuberculosis, 9; and as due to scrofula, 2. It is satisfactory to find that in 1906 no deaths were attributed to starvation, scurvy, opium, morphia-habit, poisoning by ptomaines and other food toxins, or to industrial poisoning; but three deaths were attributed to alcoholism. All three were females!

To the group of rheumatic and gouty diseases, 10 deaths were attributed in 1906, as compared with 11 in the previous year.

From carcinoma 31 deaths were recorded in 1906, or four more than in 1905. Sarcoma was assigned as the cause of two deaths, as in 1905. Cancer, malignant disease (not otherwise specified) was registered as the cause of 32 deathsin 1906, as against 43 in 1905. The total number of deaths from this group of malignant diseases was 65 (33 males and 32 females), as compared with 72 in 1905, 58 in 1904, 62 in 1903, and 60 in 1902. Deaths from those diseases amounted to 7.2 per cent. of the deaths from all causes, and were in the proportion of 1.61 to a thousand persons living.

The mortality from malignant disease in the Isle of Man during the last five years would appear to have been about stationary, and this, though but a small mercy, is something to be thankful for.

The deaths ascribed in 1906 to some one or other form of accident or violence numbered 30, or three above the number registered in 1905. Of these deaths in 1906, four were registered under the heading of " Vehicles and horses" ; three under " Ships, boats, and docks (not drowning) "; four under " Burns and scalds"; two under "Poisons"; six under "Drowning" ; four under "Suffocation " ; four under " Falls " ; and two under the heading of " Otherwise or not stated." No returns were received attributable to any of the following headings, viz., "In mines and quarries," "Building operations," "Weapons and implements," " Machinery," or "Weather agencies."

There were one suicide, no homicide, and no death from execution.

The deaths in public institutions in 1906 numbered 79, or 15 below the total for 1905. 24 occurred in Noble's Hospital, 5 in the House of Industry, 24 in the Home for the Poor, 14 in the Lunatic Asylum, 6 in the White Hoe (Isolation) Hospital, and 3 in the Cronk Ruagh (not " Rough" as in the report) Isolation Hospital.

BIRTH AND DEATH RATES AT A GLANCE.

The following information is extracted from the table in the report dealing with births and deaths in 1906: —

POSITION OF DOUGLAS & ONCHAN. IMPORTANT EXPLANATION.

A note by Mr Story, appended to his table of birth and death rates for 1906, is in the following terms:-

The birth and death rate of Douglas, calculated on the census population of 1901, is 27.3 and 18.5 respectively, while the rates of Onchan are 9.8 and 4.5. The population of the extended borough of Douglas is stated to be 21,285, and on this basis the birth rate is 24.7, and the death rate 16.7. The population of Onchan outside the borough of Douglas appears to be 1,842, and on this basis the birth and death rate is 21.2 and 9.7 respectively.

VACCINATIONS.

The vaccinations as returned by the various registrars as having been successfully performed during the year 1906 reach the total of 924. The percentages of vaccinations to births in the various registration districts were as follow:-

In the foregoing return, remarks Mr Story, the ratio of vaccinations to births is 91.3 per cent, which "at best" is hardly satisfactory. The returns from Patrick and Foxdale;Andreas, Bride, and Jurby; Braddan and Marown; Arbory and ashen; show an aggregate of only some 93 per cent., while the returns from districts exceeding 100 per cent. are due chiefly to arrears of vaccinations.

THE METEOROLOGY OF THE YEAR.

For the following annual weather summary, Mr Story is indebted to the courtesy of Mr A. W. Moore, C.V.O., .R.M.S. : —

1906 has been a normal year as regards temperature and rainfall, but it has been more sunny than usual,

January was mild, wet, and windy; February, cold, stormy and wet, but sunny; March was an average month; April was very sunny, dry, and rather cold; May, cold, sunless, and very wet; June and July, fine, sunny, and dry; August was rather wet and cold; September, very fine and dry, and the sunniest on record; October, very mild and rather wet; November, gloomy, windy, and mild; December, wet and rather cold, with very variable temperatures.

The average barometrical pressure was 29.930 in.; the highest 30.714 in., on the 9th of April, and the lowest 28.497 in., on the 10th of February.

As regards shade temperature, the average at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. was 48.27 degrees, being 0.22 degrees above the mean; the average of the maximum and minimum was 48.18 degrees at Cronkbourne, and 49.45 degrees at Ramsey The highest temperature was recorded on the 1st September, being 82.5 degrees at Ramsey, and 77.3 degrees at Cronkbourne; the lowest temperature at Cronkbourne was 23.2 degrees on the 13th of March, the lowest at Ramsey having been 26.0 degrees on the 9th of February. The mean daily range was 11.37 degrees at Cronkbourne, and 11.97 degrees at Ramsey.

The following observations were recorded at Cronkbourne: Highest temperature in the sun, 139.0 degrees, on the 7th of September; lowest on the grass, 18.7 degrees. Duration of sunshine, 1698.6 hours,' being 98.2 hours above the mean.

The highest temperature in the sun occurring so late in the year is very remarkable.

Appended to the report are some carefully compiled and exhaustive abstracts, which to the student of sociology will well repay attention and analysis.