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Parish of St. Gcorgs the Martyr Southwark. 37

Prom the seventh Table you will see at a glance the number of deaths that have occurred
from scarlet fever in London during the last twenty years: and from the eighth Table
the number of deaths that have occurred from the same disease in this district during the
last fourteen years. In London the next most fatal year compared with the one now passed
was 1863, when 5,075 deaths were registered. In this district the next most fatal year was
1858-9, when 110 deaths were registered. In London the range of the death rate from the
lowest to the highest was 4,625; and in this district 125. During this epidemic great
efferts were made to arrest its spread, but witheut much avail. There was, however,
evoked a fear and dread I have never previously witnessed in any other epidemic. Help
when most urgently needed, could not bo had. A house wherein was scarlet fever, needed
no red cross marked upon the door to prevent communication. No one would come nigh,
either relation, nor friend, nor acquaintance, nor nurse. Those who had their families
down with this disease, had to struggle and watch, and work unheeded and unsympathised
with as best they might. Doubtless, this selfishness was sustained by the means taken to
slay the disease.
Now it appears to mo, as the fever will attack every one during 6omo period of their
life and only once, that it would bo better that it should bo passed through during child
hood than afterwards, such fear would thereby bo prevented, and aid got when needed.
With reference to zymotic diseases, I shall merely add that the deaths from fever have
been less, with one exception, than in any year during the last five; and in that exceptional
year the deaths were only less by two. The deaths from diarrhœa were less than in
the preceding year.
Constitutional disease includes consumption, mesenteric disease, hydrocephalus, with
many others; but I shall only make a few remarks upon these three. Consumption stands.
Always at the head of the death rate, and by a great majority; the only other disease that
Makes any approach to it in that respect is bronchitis. To consumption were referred 237
deaths, eleven in excess of the year 1868-9. One main cause of this disease is want of von-