View report page

The deaths from diseases of the organs of respiration have risen from 55 to 64
but compared with December there is a smaller proportion of young persons
comprised, and a larger number above 40 years of age. In January last year,
the number registered under this class was 47.
Judging by the cases applying for parochial medical relief, the sickness
among the poor has rather increased, the difference being mainly due to the
greater prevalence of catarrhal and pulmonary affections. The total number
of cases of all diseases was 693 ; in the corresponding weeks of last year it was
654, so that making allowance even for the increase of population, the excess is
against the present year. Pulmonary diseases, which last year brought 150
applicants to the Parish Surgeons, have this January furnished 250. The reduction
in the number of cases of Hooping Cough to about one half, corresponds
with the diminished mortality from that disease. Of the six cases of
small-pox recorded, three occurred in the neighbourhood of the wharves in the
Caledonian Road, and a seventh case which proved fatal, occurred in a child of
a wharf-labourer, the only one of a family of children whose vaccination has
been neglected (on account it is said of the child being too weakly). Three
other children suffered from the disease in a very modified form. The 13
cases of carbuncle and boil against 3 in January last year must not be passed
over in our estimate of the state of the public health. Six of these came under
observation in the last week of the month, and three in each of the two
previous weeks.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
42, Myddclton Square,
February 5th, 1858.