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A considerable excess of deaths of females over males, is also
a point of importance. Men, for the most part, are less
exposed to local influences than those of the opposite sex, who
are engaged in domestic occupations, while their husbands are
variously employed at a greater or less distance from home. If
the place in which they reside be unhealthy, women, from
being so much more constantly under local influences, are
found to suffer most. I apprehend this is exemplified by the
mortality of our West Ward. (See last column of Table No. 1.)
Of no less importance is the knowledge of the residence,
while living, of those whose deaths are recorded by the Registrar.
To be able to distinguish the places which are especially the
haunts of Fever and diseases of a kindred nature, is the first step
towards their examination, and subsequent essential improvement.
Occupations indicate mortality causes, both connected with,
and distinct from, those of a zymotic character; or those which
are occasioned or made worse, when otherwise produced, by
fermentation, putrefaction, or decay. With such information
we can distinguish healthy from unhealthy occupations, and
infer the result which the exercise of certain occupations may
produce on the public health.
All these particulars, which may be regarded as so many
finger-posts to direct us to places where our alteration is most
required, are now furnished weekly by the Registrar General,
viz.: the number of deaths in the Hamlet, the age, sex, previous
residence, and occupation of each deceased person, and the
disease which has caused death. When tabulated, and used by
statistical method, they become most valuable sources of information.
The health of one particular month, week, or other
period, may be compared with the same month, or other period,
in a preceding year, so as to be able to estimate our state and
sanitary progress.