View report page

72
Sickness and Mortality exclusively amongst the Union
Poor.—There is no better measure of general sickness and
fatality than that which is known, and accurately recorded,
as taking place amongst the very poor. In the past year
the sickness amongst this class appears to have been at a
minimum, viz., 79 cases only, of which 10 proved fatal.
Although this gives a somewhat larger percentage of
deaths to cases treated than in most of the other Subdistricts,
it must not be considered as particularly high,
seeing that the inclemency of the autumn and winter
months led to fatal results from Lung Diseases and from
Phthisis in 6 of the 10 deaths recorded in the Medical
Relief Books; and these, it should be remembered, were
diseases that proved singularly fatal throughout the
District—indeed it may be said throughout the kingdom.
Ages at Death.—The mortality of infants and
children from birth to 10 years of age has been already
commented upon. The deaths of persons from 20 to 40
years of age were 42 against 22 in the previous year;
those between 40 and 60 numbered 41 against 31, and
those between 60 and 80 were 48 against 55, as enumerated
in the last Report.
The deaths of aged persons, i.e., at 80 and upwards,
decreased in the two years from 17 to 10. The oldest
person who died within the past year was an alms-woman,
aged 92. There were several others who died between 80
and 90.
Sudden, Accidental, and other Deaths, Inquests, &c.
—The accidental, sudden, and other deaths upon which it
was necessary to hold inquests, were 14 in number. These
several inquiries resulted in the following verdicts:—