View report page

21
former disease against 13, and 1 from the latter against 10 in the
previous year.
Speaking of small pox, there is much reason to fear that vaccination,
as is the case almost everywhere, is neglected in this parish
to a deplorable extent. The indifference of parents, amongst the
poorer classes especially, to submit their offspring to this valuable
prophylactic appears to be increasing in all directions, and to call
loudly for the interference of the legislature. It is indeed almost
incredible that such an immense loss of life as occasionally occurs in
some of the poorer districts of the metropolis and elsewhere should
be incurred from the neglect of a preventive of the most simple
and efficacious kind.
MORTALITY IN THE WORKHOUSE.
Of the 505 registered deaths in this sub-district, 112, as before
stated, died in the workhouse, but what is particularly worthy of
being noted is the circumstance of 12 persons dying in that house
during the past year at various ages between 80 and 90, and as
many as 27 between 70 and 80. The oldest person who succumbed
had reached the advanced age of 89.
INFANT MORTALITY—PROPORTION OP BIRTHS TO DEATHS.
The mortality of children between birth and 10 years of age
has been much greater than in 1860, the numbers being 269 against
131, or more than double that of the previous year. Convulsions,
premature birth, and low vitality, have contributed largely to this
excess.
Precisely the same causes as were commented upon in previous
reports, viz., the neglect of infants by mothers, employed in large
numbers in the manufactories which abound in this neighbourhood,
appear to be in as active operation as ever in producing the
lamentable condition of things above referred to, and it is much
to be feared that with the increased demand for female labour, and
the consequent increase of the population by immigration, a corresponding
increase of the evil is inevitable.
SICKNESS AND MORTALITY AMONGST THE OUT DOOR POOR.
Table V., Appendix, exhibits the nature and amount of sickness
amongst the pauper population of the sub-district (exclusive of
those treated in the infirmary of the workhouse), as well as
the deaths that have resulted from disease and other causes. Of
970 cases of sickness, accidents, &c., which came under treatment
and which were registered in the Medical Relief Books during the