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14
WORKHOUSE.
The number of deaths in this establishment has been 438, more than in
1857. This circumstance cannot fairly be regarded as an indication that the
sanitary conditon of the building has been inferior. The great mass of those
who die in the workhouse are persons who have been long suffering from chronic
diseases, many of them at very advanced ages. There has been no high fatality
from Zymotic diseases, with the exception of Measles, which caused 29 deaths,
taking off chiefly the unhealthy young children. The ages at death wore as
follows:—Under 5 years of age, 86; from 5 to 10 years, 2; between 10 and
20 years, 5; between 20 and 30, 20; between 30 and 40, 19; between 40 and
50, 44; between 50 and 60, 60; between 60 and 70, 75 ; between 70 and 80,
82 ; between 80 and 90, 40; between 90 and 100, 5. So that above the age of
50 years, 262, or considerably more than half of the deaths occurred. And of
the deaths between 20 and 50, by far the largest proportion occurred from Consumption
and Bronchitis, a few from Diseases of the Kidneys, and some from
Cancer.
I believe that the condition of the Building generally has been satisfactory.
There is a marked improvement of late as regards cleanliness and general order
throughout the Establishment.
"Within the last few months, the drainage of the Infirmary has been defective,
owing to leakage from some of the soil pipes ; this, however was remedied
as soon as the cause was detected. At the present time there is at intervals a
very offensive drainage smell noticed in the male lunatic wards. There is
reason to think that it arises from the close proximity to the Burial Ground, the
soakage from which probably finds its way under the flooring of part of the abovenamed
wards. I am at the present time investigating the matter, and I have
not the least doubt that so soon as the exact cause is ascertained, and a remedy
suggested, the Directors will have the evil removed.
TAUTER SICKNESS.
Whilst the registers of death are a most valuable guide in judging of the
salubrity of a place, they frequently fail most signally as a guage of prevailing
sickness. It is not always the case when the rate of mortality is low, that but
a small amount of disease exists. If we were enabled to register all cases of
illness that came under medical treatment, whether parochially, in public institutions,
or privately, we should have a much more accurate indication of the
state of public health than we have at present. At the present day such a
register cannot be obtained, but in default of that I have kept a register of the
cases of disease that are treated at the expense of the Parish, both in the Workhouse
and out of doors. I am enabled to do this through the kindness and
public spirit of the Medical Officers, who have, since Michaelmas, continued to
supply me with returns of their cases, although the salary allowed them as
Assistant Officers of Health, was discontinued at that period. These returns,
which they furnish mo from week to week, are attended with a considerable
amount of labour on their part, but rather than the parish should suffer they
have willingly undertaken it.
Table IX embodies the chief results obtained from an analysis of the number
given in those returns. It will be seen that no fewer than 11,139 cases of
sickness have been under the treatment of the Parish Surgeons during the year
1858 ; of these 8866 were out-door poor, and 2273 were in the Workhouse. The
number of sick has been considerably higher this year than in 1857 There
have been a larger number of cases of Low Fever, of Diarrhoea, of Scarlet
Fever, of Small Pox, of Measles, and of Hooping Cough, than in the previous
year. The greatest excess has been underthe head of Scarlet Fever, 425 instead