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and 10 in other institutions. Elsewhere than in public institutions 33 persons
belonging to Shoreditch died beyond the limits of the Borough ; in three
instances during conveyance to hospitals.
Altogether 1,065 or 51.4 per cent. of the deaths of persons belonging to
Shoreditch took place in public institutions.
SICKNESS AMONGST THE POOH.
The cases coming under the treatment of the district medical officers in connection
with the Poor Law Dispensary in Hoxton Street during 1915 numbered
3,625, a number smaller than in any year since 1903. An analysis of the cases
is recorded in Table VII. (Appendix).
The diseases classed as infectious accounted for 481, a smaller number than for
many years past. Measles, influenza, whooping cough, diarrhoea and tuberculosis
all shew marked decreases in the number of cases. Diseases of the respiratory
organs, which are also in the main to be regarded as infectious, numbered 1,104;
of these bronchitis accounted for 1,003 and 64 were due to pneumonia. Rheumatism
was given as the diagnosis in 215, a number considerably below the average.
Oases of rheumatic fever numbered 21 and were again below the average in point
of number. Cases diagnosed as gout numbered 31, a smaller number than for some
years past. Dyspepsia and other disorders of the digestive system accounted for
316, a number also markedly below the average. Cases of cancer numbered 18, a
number somewhat below the average for recent years.
Diseases of the locomotive system, chiefly of ulcerated legs, accounted for 113,
and 174 were attributed to diseases of the skin.
The marked decreases in the numbers of cases noted for this year are in all
probability largely to be ascribed to the more affluent circumstances of the poor
for the time being arising out of the war, which has doubtless enabled many to
secure the services of private practitioners.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The infectious diseases included under the headings numbered 1 to 35 and .171
in Table V. (Appendix) resulted in 650 deaths. The number was slightly below
the average for the previous 10 years. The deaths from these diseases amounted
to 31.3 per cent. of the total number of deaths from all causes. As compared
with the figures for 1914, the mortality from consumption, cerebro-spinal fever
and scarlet fever shew increases, whilst those from measles and whooping cough
are decreased. The deaths from consumption and the other forms of tuberculosis