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19
That portion of the above table which refers to the deaths in this subdistrict
in relation to the social positions of the deceased persons, will,
it is hoped, possess some interest for the local statist who may be desirous
of testing the true value of sanitation as affecting the most helpless
classes of the community.
The preponderance of deaths amongst the labouring classes compared
with the number that occurred amongst the trading classes, although
considerable, is unquestionably becoming less every year. The mortality
amongst the higher class is always and everywhere much lower than
amongst the class at the other extremity of the social scale, not only
because the former live in plenty, and the latter in comparative want,
but also because the wealthy are more cleanly and temperate, are less
excited by low passions, and by no means so subject to those depressing
influences that are induced by sudden changes of their circumstances.
Considering, however, the many drawbacks under which disease is combated
amongst the working classes generally, it is not a little gratifying
to find that sanitation is really exerting a very beneficial influence in
protecting the very poor from invasions of the more fatal forms of
disease.
It would be unreasonable to imagine that severe diseases will ever
cease to afflict the poor and their families; but it is manifest that the
number of pauper deaths relatively to the number of pauper cases
treated, is now very considerably less in this, as in every other parish
within the district, than was observable a few years ago, before preventive
medicine came to be cultivated as a science, and sanitary subjects to be
discussed with so much advantage to the public.
Table IV., Appendix, will show that of 665 cases of sickness, accident,
&c., coming under treatment amongst the out-door poor of this subdistrict
in 1858, the number proving fatal was 23. If, however, the
deaths registered in the past year as the result of accident, old age, and
premature birth, are excluded from the calculation, the pauper mortality
of the sub-district will be found to have amounted to 20 only. This
small per centage of deaths in the number of cases treated cannot be
otherwise than gratifying, since it may be very fairly looked upon as
indicating a greatly improved sanitary condition of most of the localities
inhabited by the recipients of parochial relief, where epidemic diseases
were formerly wont to show themselves in their most fatal forms.
In connexion with the table just referred to, it may be further remarked
that although 72 cases of scarlet fever, of more than ordinary severity,
during the hours of their parents' labour, are received and cared for, I am inclined to
believe that their general adoption in this country would be the means of annually
Saving thousands of children from a premature grave. I am aware that this
is a sanitary requirement which the Board of Works could not legitimately recognize or
supply. I allude to it, however, that the attention of the philanthropic may be drawn
to the fact of the measure referred to having been already tried extensively, both in
this and other countries, and found eminently successful in diminishing the rate of
mortality amongst infants. There can be no doubt that in this parish it would prove
quite as beneficial a sanitary measure as that other great desideratum of the district,
the cheap bath for the poorer classes. Both these measures, if carried out, would be
inexpensive, and might ultimately be made self-supporting. The good they are calculated
to effect can scarcely be over estimated.
B 2