[From Manx Quarterly, #9 1910]

Births, Marriages, & Deaths in the Isle of Man

Annual Report of the Registrar-General for 1909.

Mr B. E. Sargeunt, whose plurality of office in the Isle of Man includes the Registrar-Generalship, has submitted to the Lieutenant-Governor the thirty-third annual report as to births, marriages, deaths, and vaccinations in the Isle of Man. The report, which concerns the year 1909, is thus prefaced by Mr Sargeaunt : —

To his Excellency the Right Hon. Lord Raglan, O.B., Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man.

My Lord,—I have the honour to append my report for the year 1909, on the marriages, births, death, and vaccinations recorded in the respective registration districts of the Island during that year, together with a series of abstracts and tables connected therewith. -

The births for the entire Island for the year 1909 numbered 1,036 and the deaths 970, the result being an excess of births over deaths of 66. In the immediately preceding year (1908) the excess was 143.

It is unfortunate to have to record a decrease in the number of marriages and births, and at the same time an increase in the deaths. The decrease in marriages amounted to 72, and that in births to 8, while the births exceeded those in 1908 by 69.

The marriage rate per 1,000 of the population was only 10.8, being the lowest yet recorded. The marriages in the town of Douglas and parish of Braddan numbered 149, and constituted exactly one-half of the marriages which took place in the entire Island ; yet the marriages in the town and parish named were 53 less than those recorded in the same places in 1908.

27 married under the age of 21, as compared with 51 in the year immediately preceding.

The birth rate of the Island was 18·9, and it is the lowest yet recorded. In the Western Division of the Island it fell as low as 12·1. In the towns the rate remained much the same as in the preceding year, with the exception of Castletown, where it rose from 14·2 in 1908 to 21·3 in 1909. The illegitimate births numbered 64, as compared with 69 in 1908.

The death rate in 1909 was 17·7, an increase on that of the previous year of l·9 Of the four divisions of the Island, in only the Northern was there a reduced death rate.

In each of the four principal towns there was an increase in the number of deaths registered, but the deaths in the town of Douglas were only one in excess of those in 1908. Throughout the Island the death of females exceeded those of males by 48. The deaths of children under the age of 5 numbered 188, and there were 46 deaths of persons who had attained the age of 85.

Throughout my report all rates given, whether for the Island or for individual parishes and towns, have, except where otherwise mentioned, been calculated upon the basis of the population as estimated at the census in April, 1901.

I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Excellency’s most obedient servant,

B. B. SARGEAUNT,

Registrar-General.

Generally in the compilation of the report, Mr Sargeaunt follows the excellent lines laid down by the late Mr H. Story, his predecessor in office, and it therefore goes without saying that the document is a very interesting and instructive one. Both interest and instruction might, however, be enhanced were the report to include something in the nature of a comparison with the figures for the United Kingdom so far as the birth, marriage, and death rates are concerned. Perhaps Mr Sargeaunt will take the hint in connection with future reports. At the outset, there is given a general summary in the following terms:

The marriages registered in 1909 numbered 298 ; the births, 1,030 ; and the deaths, 970. The marriage rate per thousand of the population was 5.4 ; the birth rate, 18.9 ; and the death rate, 17·7. The excess of births over deaths was 66, or 1·2 per thousand of the population. These rates in the immediately preceding year (1908) were : Marriage, 6·7 ; birth, 19·0 ; death, 16·4 ; and excess of births over death, 2·6 per thousand of the population.

Then comes a table from which it is to gathered that the general tendency is for the birth, marriage, and death rate to decline in the Island. As from 1890 to 1909 inclusive, births were most numerous in 1895, when they numbered 1,515, while they were at their lowest in 1909, when the total was 1,036. Marriages were most plentiful in 1899, when they numbered 430, and were least numerous in 1909, when the figure stood at 298. The record year fair deaths during the period was 1890, when 1,159 persons departed this life, and the other extreme was in 1907, when the number was 893. Taking yearly averages of quinquennial periods, the rates per 1,000 of the population were as follows : —

1890-1894 (inclusive) : Births, 25.3 ; marriages, 6.83 ; deaths, 19.9.

1895-1899 : Births, 26.2 ; marriages, 7.1; deaths, 19.5.

1900-1904 : Births, 22.7; marriages, 6.2 ; deaths, 18.6.

1905-1909: Births, 19.7 ; marriages, 6.1 ; deaths, 16.9.

The fall in the death rate is certainly a matter for congratulation but the gradual lowering of the birth and marriage rates affords food for serious reflection as indicating, it may be, unwillingness to assume hymenal and parental responsibilities Possibly the decline is in considerable measure attributable to prudential motives—in these days people are entering the bonds of matrimony consider the question of ways and means more carefully than of yore, while there is a growing disposition among married folk to limit the number of their children in ratio to their incomes. There would appear to be no doubt that the principles which the late Dr Malthus laboured to inculcate are finding more favour as education spreads.

MARRIAGES.

The number of marriages registered in the year 1909 was 298, being 72 below the number registered in the immediately preceding year (1908), and corresponded to a rate of 5.4 marriages, or 10.8 persons married, to a thousand living in 1909. During the period 1879-1888 the rate, based upon the population as estimated in 1881,. was at its maximum in 1884, in which year the rate was 15.0 per thousand, and at its minimum in 1888, when the rate was 12.3. In 1889 the rate rose to 14.5, but fell in 1890 to 13.5, and in 1891 to 12.4 ; rising again in 1892 to 12.6, and in 1893 to 15.1, this being the maximum rate for the periodl879—1897; but it rose to 15.2 in 1898 and to 15.4 in 1899, falling again to 11.2 in 1903, and in 1909 to 10.8, being the lowest yet recorded.

The marriages registered in 1909 in the respective divisions of the Island were : —Western (comprising the town of Peel and the parishes of German, Patrick, Michael, and Ballaugh), 36, or 6 below those registered in 1908 ; Northern (comprising the town of Ramsey and the parishes of Maughold, Lezayre, Andreas, Bride, and Jurby), 50, or 8 below those registered in the immediately preceding year, 1908, in that division ; Eastern (comprising the town of Douglas and the parishes of Onchan, Lonan, Braddan, and Marown), 176, or 54 less than the number registered in that division in 1908 ; and Southern (comprising the town of Castletown and the parishes of Malew, Santon, Arbory, and Rushen), 36, or 4 below the number registered in that division in 1908. In the immediately preceding year, 1908, the marriages registered in the several divisions were : — Western, 42; Northern, 58 ; Eastern, 230 ; and Southern, 40; showing in 1909 a decrease in all four divisions.

The marriages registered in 1909 in the of Peel, Ramsey, and Castletown were respectively 18, 9, and 2, against 24, 16, and 4 in the preceding year (1908). In the town of Douglas 94 marriages, or 24 less than the number in 1908, were registered in 1909. The marriages registered in 1909 in the parish of Braddan and town of Douglas numbered 149, as against 202 in 1908, the number recorded in 1909 being exactly one-half of the total marriages registered for the whole Island.

The marriages of bachelors and spinsters (258) constitute 86.5 per cent. of the total marriages ; of bachelors and widows, 9, or 3.0 per cent. ; of widowers and spinsters, 22, or 7.3 per cent. ; and of widowers and widows, 9, or 3 per cent.

Of the persons who married in 1909, 27 were under the age of 21 years, or 24 below the number in 1908.

The men who in 1909 signed the marriage register with marks, instead of writing their names, were 2, or in the proportion of [0].6 in 100 ; and 2 women, or in the proportion of [0] .6 in 100. Evidently illiteracy is fast disappearing.

At the end of the year 1909, the number of buildings in which marriages could be solemnised by rites other than those of the Established Church was 27. One new building (the United Methodist Church, Ramsey) was registered for the purpose during the year.

BIRTHS.

The births registered in the year 1909 numbered 1,036, and were 8 below the number (1,044) registered in the immediately preceding year, 1908.

The births registered in 1909, compared with the number registered in the immediately preceding year, 1908, show a decrease of 8 births, against a decrease in 1908 of 29 births. The rate of the last quinquennial returns (1905-1909) is 19·7, which is 3·0 below that of the previous five years (1900-1904)

The birth rate of the Island, calculated on the census returns of April, 1901, was 18.9, or a decrease of 0.1 on the previous year, and is the lowest yet recorded.

The births registered in the Western Division of the Island were 103, or 7 less than the number registered . in that division in the immediately preceding year (1908) ; in the Northern Division, 140, or 13 less than the number registered in 1908 ; in the Eastern Division, 639, or 3 above the number registered in 1908 ; and in the Southern Division, 154, or 9 more than the number registered in that division in 1908.

The birth rates of the several divisions of the Island were : —Western, 12·7; Northern, 15·2 ; Eastern, 22·1 ; and Southern, 17·8. These rates, in the immediately preceding year, 1908, stood as follows : —Western, 13·5 ; Northern, 16·6 ; Eastern, 22·1 ; and Southern, 17·8.

The birth rates in 1909 in the several towns of the Island were : —
Peel, 11·5; Ramsey, 15·8 ; Douglas, 25·4 ; and Castletown, 21·3 per thousand of the population living in 1909.

The rates recorded in the year 1908 were : —
Peel, 11·5 ; Ramsey, 15·6 , Douglas, 25·6 ; and Castletown, 14·2.

524 males and 512 females were born during the year.

ILLEGITIMACY.

The illegitimate births in 1909 numbered 64, or 5 less than in 1908. A table in the appendix to the report gives the following details of the places of illegitimate births in 1909 : —Western Division, 4 ; Northern Division, 17; Eastern Division, 33 ; Southern Division, 10. The proportion of illegitimate births to the total number of births in the various divisions were : —

These proportions in the different towns and parishes were as follow : —

It will thus be seen that in the matter of illegitimacy the Northern Division has the questionable honour of standing first, while generally speaking the towns occupy a much lower position than the rural districts. In regard to the high percentage of illegitimate births in Braddan, it should be borne in mind that the parish is credited—or discredited—with the children born out off wedlock in the Home for the Poor. In the great majority of instances the mothers of the illegitimate children born in the Home come from districts other than Braddan—mostly from Douglas.

DEATHS.

The deaths registered during the year 1909 numbered 970, being 69 more than in the preceding year.

The death rate of the Island, calculated on the census return of population in April, 1901, was 17.7, and is 0.8 per 1,000 above the last quinquennial period.

The highest death rate recorded since

1878 was that of 21 .9 in 1880 ; .and the lowest rate was 16.3, in 1906 and 1907.

The death rates in 1909 for the several divisions of the Island were : —Western, 13.7 per 1,000 of the population of that division living ; Northen, 15.8 Eastern 19 2 , and Southern, 18 2 , against 11.1, 16.3 18.4, and 14.9 recorded in the several divisions in the preceding year, 1908. It will, therefore, be seen that there was an increase in all the divisions, as compared with the rates recorded in the preceding year, 1908, except the Northern.

The apparent death rate in 1909 in the parish of Braddan was 33.0 (as against 30.3 in 1908) ; but after deducting from the total number of deaths (72) registered in that parish of persons belonging elsewhere who died at the Lunatic Asylum (12), at the Home for the Poor (25), and at the White Hoe Isolation Hospital (8), the true death rate of the parish was 12.4, as against 8.2 in 1908.

The death rate in 1909, of the several towns of the Island was : —Peel, 12.4; Ramsey, 19.2 ; Douglas, 20.1 ; and Castletown, 16.9, to 1,000 of the population of those respective towns. The rate of the preceding year, 1908, was : — Peel, 11.2; Ramsey, 16.7 ; Douglas, 20.0 ; and Castletown, 13.7. The rate, therefore, in 1909 increased in all four towns.

The 970 deaths registered in 1909 included 461 males and 509 females ; the deaths of females being 48 more than those of males. In the immediately preceding year, 1908, the female deaths were 29 less than the male deaths. The death rate in 1909 of males was 18.0, and that of females 17.3 per 1,000 living of the corresponding sex. In the preceding year (1908) the death rate of males was 20.9, and that of females 17.3. The mean annuai rate for the quinquennial period 1904-1908 was— males, 190 ; and females, 16.5.

The deaths in 1909 of children between five and fifteen years of age were 51 (26 males and 25 females), as against 36 (15 males and 21 females in 1908. In 1909 the deaths under one year included 66 males and 43 females ; total, 109. This mortality was in 1903, 144; 1904, 154; 1905, 139; 1906, 111; 1907, 107; 1908, 126.The total deaths under five years in 1904 were 219 ; in 1905, 223 ; in 1906, 178; in 1907, 150; in 1908, 182; and in 1909, 188.

The registered deaths in 1909 of persons aged 65 and upwards were 358 ; of these

160 were male and 198 female deaths. Those deaths were 50 above the number registered in the preceding year, 1908.

Of persons attaining the age of 85 and upwards, 46 deaths (16 males and 30 females) were registered in 1909. These deaths were 14 above the number regis-tered in the preceding year, 1908.

The death rate for 1909 in the four towns of the Island (Douglas, Ramsey, Peel, and Castletown) was 18.3 per 1,000, while in the parishes, exclusive of the towns, this rate was 15.3 per thousand. To every 100 deaths which occurred in the parishes there were 136 in the towns.

CAUSES OF DEATH.

THE WHITE SCOURGE.

In regard to the causes of death, it is satisfactory to note that during 1909 no person succumbed in the Isle of Man to smallpox. Indeed only one death—in 1903 —has occurred in this Island from this dread disease since 1879. The deaths from the other principal febrile diseases in 1909 were as . follow : —Measles, 27 ; scarlet fever, 5 ; diphtheria, 18 ; whooping cough, 10 ; typhus fever, 0 ; enteric fever, 2; erysipelas, 0 ; influenza, 10 ; diarrhoea and dysentery, 3 ; puerperal fever, 0. In 1908 the deaths due to these diseases were as follow : —Measles, 4 ; scarlet fever, 0; diphtheria, 15 ; whooping cough, 10; typhus fever, 0 ; enters fever, 2; erysipelas, 0 ; influenza, 10 ; diarrhoea and dysentery, 10 ; puerperal fever, 0. The average annual number of deaths from these causes during the quinquennial period 1905-1909 was as follows : —Measles, 11 ; scarlet fever, 2 ; diphtheria, 19; whooping cough, 9 ; typhus fever, 0; enteiic ferer, 2 ; erysipelas, 1 ; influenza, 10 ; diarrhoea and dysentery, 7 ; puerperal fever, 1. There has been only one death —in 1891—from typhus fever since 1890. Of the eighteen deaths from diphtheria in 1909, fourteen occurred in rural districts, seven of these being in Lonan.

In 1909 the deaths from cancer or malignant disease not otherwise defined nunibered 33, as against 30 in 1908. From all varieties of malignant disease, the deaths in the years 1902-1909 were as follow : —1902, 60 ; 1903, 62 ; 1904, 58; 1905, 72; 1906, 65; 1907, 59; 1908, 68; 1909, 68.

In 1909 the deaths from these diseases amounted to 7.5 per cent. of the deaths from all causes, and were in the proportion of 1.0 to a. thousand persons living. 31 males and 37 females died from malignant disease during the year.

To tuberculous diseases in the aggregate 136 deaths were attributed in the year 1909 (72 males and 64 females). Deaths from these causes amounted to 14 per cent. of the deaths from all causes, and were in the proportion of 2.4 to 1,000 living.

Tuberculous phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis) was in 1909 assigned as the cause of death of 41 males and 28 females—in all 69 ; while phthisis (not otherwise defined) was certified in 20 cases (10 males and 10 females). The combined total of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis and phthisis (89) is less than that of 1908 by 15, and of 1907 by 6, but it is 5 in excess of that of 1906.

From all varieties of tuberculous diseases the deaths from 1902 to 1909 were as follow:—1902, 151; 1903, 131; 1904, 158; 1905, 134; 1906, 120; 1907, 128; 1908, 133; 1909, 136.

Twenty-six persons died from accident or violence in 1909, or ten fewer than in 1908.

Deaths in public institutions in 1909 were 94, or one above the number registered in 1908. Three occurred in the Ramsey Cottage Hospital ; 37 in Noble’s Hospital, Douglas ; 8 in the House of Industry ; 1 in the Widows’ House (Fort-street) ; 25 in the Home for the Poor ; 12 in the Lunatic Asylum ; and 8 in the White Hoe (Isolation) Hospital.

VACCINATIONS

The vaccinations, as returned by the various registrars as having been successfully performed during the year 1909, reach the total of 787. The percentage of vaccinations to births during the year was 82. The total number of births during the year was 1,036, and 109 of the children born during the year died under the age of one year.

DOUGLAS AND ONCHAN. AN IMPORTANT NOTE.

The figures as to births and deaths are calculated on the census population, and this being so, are misleading in the cases of Douglas and Onchan. Since the last census was taken, in 1901, the boundaries of Douglas have been considerably extended, and the extension includes a considerable portion of what was formerly the parish of Onchan. The following important note appended to one of the tables as to births and deaths in the report gives the accurate position of Douglas and Onchan in regard to birth and death rates : —" The birth and death rate of Douglas, calculated on the census population of 1901, is 25.4 and 20.1 respectively, while the rates of Onchan are 10.8 and 7.3. The population of the extended borough of Douglas is stated to be 21,285, and on this basis the birth rate is 23.0, and the death rate 18.2. The population of Onchan, outside the borough of Douglas, appears to be 1,842, and on this basis the birth and death rate is 20.5 and 15.9 respectively. The true death rate of Braddan was 12.4."

There are appended to the report as a whole the usual tables, giving very interesting particulars concerning births, marriages, and deaths in the Island.

New Hospital, Douglas