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34
Comparative Mortality from Zymotic and other Diseases.—With
the exception of the deaths registered as
having been due to diseases of the respiratory organs
(which were less by 15 than in 1866), there is nothing
particular in that portion of the table relating to the
mortality from diseases not Zymotic, requiring to be commented
upon. Under some of the headings, when compared
with those in the table of 1866, there is found a slight
increase of deaths ; but again, under others, the numbers
are slightly less than in the preceding year, so that the
balance is pretty well preserved in respect to the total
number. Precisely the same number of persons succumbed
during the past year to Pulmonary Phthisis as in the
preceding one, viz., 16.
Of the deaths due to the seven principal Zymotic
diseases, the greatest decrease is observable under the
heading Whooping Cough, the mortality from which, from
7 cases in 1866, fell to none in the past year's record. The
deaths from Small-pox were 2 in the past, against only 1
in the preceding, year. To Fever, Measles, and Diarrhoea,
fewer persons have succumbed than in 1866, and no deaths
in the past year were registered from Diphtheria. This is
altogether very satisfactory.
Violent deaths.—The deaths from violence, including
those from accident, negligence, and from suicide, were 11,
upon all of which Coroner's Inquests were of course held.
The accidental burning of four adult male persons, from
the taking fire of a house at Tooting, was an appalling
circumstance, and scarcely less distressing were the suicides
of two persons, the one by hanging, and the other by
drowning, while in an unsound state of mind. Besides
these, two male persons were accidentally crushed to death
by carriages on the railway, and another by a large quantity
of hay falling on the person, and causing suffocation.
A lad aged 12 also died from hanging by misadventure.
There were likewise four inquests held on the remains
of persons dying suddenly, though evidence was subsequently
adduced showing that the cause of death in each
instance was perfectly natural.