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There were 34 deaths from Diphtheria—that is four less than in 1861.
Hooping Cough.—-To this 112 deaths were referred. Proportionally to the
population the greatest mortality fell upon the districts of Highbury Yale and
Balls Pond; but a considerable mortality occurred from this cause in those of
Bemerton, Park Street, St. Thomas, Canal and Archway.
Fever.—115 deaths were referred to fever. This number is somewhat large,
but is explained by the existence of an epidemic of typhus in London. Nine of the
deaths recorded were of nurses in the London Fever Hospital.
Bowel Complaints.—Diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera together, thanks to a
cool summer, only occasioned together 97 deaths, of which 70 were of children under
five years of age. Nine was the highest weekly number of deaths. All the cases I
had record of amounted to 1,169, against 1,704 in 1861, In no one week of the
year did the mean temperature exceed 61.3°
b Constitutional Diseases.
8. The number of persons who died from tubercular diseases, the most important
group of this class was 474 of whom 145 were infants. This total number is just
below that recorded in 1861. The deaths from consumption were 320; in 1861 they
amounted to 329.
c Local Diseases.
9. The so called local diseases occasioned 1,182 deaths, that is, 98 more than in
1861. Those especially fatal were diseases of the nervous system and of the organs
of circulation, the former furnishing 343 and the latter 180 fatal cases. The deaths
from diseases of the chest and organs of respiration (excluding consumption)
amounted to 478.
SANITARY WORKS OF THE YEAR.
10. Table VIII.—shows the work of the year in respect of house improvements.
In the poorer neighbourhoods, where the visits of the Inspectors are principally
required, it commonly happens that only a short time elapses before interference
becomes again necessary in the interest of the health of the inhabitants. It would
scarcely be too much to say, that nearly every house in the districts constituting
the third group of Table VII., and that half the houses in the second group require
some sanitary amendment or other in the course of every year. All we can do is to
look after the worst of them, when attention is called to them by unusual outbreaks
of disease, or by complaints made by their inhabitants or by neighbours. The
Amended Act for the Local Management of the Metropolis having virtually placed
the sanitary arrangements of cow houses under the control of the Vestry, a
thorough inspection of these places was made by the Inspector and myself, in all
the instances where the proper notice was lodged at the Office of an intention to apply
for a licence. Many of these were found in a disgracefully dirty, and ill drained