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the month. The average temperature of the 1st and 2nd weeks was about 4.4°
above the average, whilst that of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th weeks was 0.6°, 2.3°, and
7.5° below the respective averages of corresponding weeks.
I must again call your attention to the open drain in Winchester Terrace,
Agar Town, on which I reported 12 months ago, and to which I have on
several occasions referred. Low Fever and Diarrhoea are again making their
appearance in this place, and as the season advances, unless the ditch be covered
over, very serious consequences may be apprehended. I trust that the Vestry will
without delay remedy the evil.
REVIEW OF THE WINTER QUARTER.
The total number of deaths registered in the Parish during the quarter ending
28th March, 1S57, was 1112, whilst in the corresponding quarter of 1855 the
number was 995, and the corrected average of ten previous years is 1161. The
increase on last year is chiefly dependent on pulmonary diseases; there was an
excess of 86 deaths amongst children under 5 years of age, and of 34 amongst
persons over 60, showing that at other ages the mortality was about the same as
last year.
The mean temperature of the quarter as observed at Greenwich was nearly
39°—about the average of other winter quarters; but the fifth and sixth weeks
were very cold—considerably below the average.
The mortality from small pox, scarlatina, and hooping cough, severally, has
been less thau in the first quarter of 1856 or of 1855. The registered deaths from
measles, diarrhoea, and fever, have been more than in either of the two previous
years; but if it were concluded from this that fever has been more prevalent than
last year a very wrong impression would bo made, for in 1856 during the winter
quarter 142 St. Pancras people went to the Fever Hospital, nearly all with fever,
and of these 30 died, whilst during the late quarter only 15 went there and there
were no deaths; so that by making a correction for this circumstance the numbers
of fever deaths of St. Pancras residents in 1856 and 1857 become, instead of 27
and 33, 57 and 33 respectively.
In accordance with the last fact is the experience of the District Surgeons,
who in the first quarter of 1856 treated 120 cases of low fever, whilst in the corresponding
quarter of 1857 they have only treated 37 cases.
Annexed are the several tables for the month of April and the winter quarter.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
THOMAS HILLIER, M.D., L.R.C.P.
21, Upper Gower Street.