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17
There is but little interest in the difference of the two years, with respect to
these diseases. In some localities the mortality has risen, in some it has subsided.
The sequence of the ten sub divisions, in their fatality from acute lung disease, conlinues
to present a certain correspondence to their mode of arrangement in regard of zymotic
disease; suggesting a similarity in the two classes of complaint, as to the mode in which
they are influenced by local conditions.
Before quitting the subject of the localization of disease, violent deaths deserve
a minute's notice. Of 49 such deaths in the year, 8 took place in hospitals, 6 in the
workhouse, 3 of the latter being among inmates of the house. Fifteen lives were lost
in the Gilbert Street fire, in March, 1858, and 4 persons committed suicide. Deducting
these deaths, there remain 30 from accidents of various kinds, and of these 23 occurred
in the four southernmost localities of St. Giles's parish, (lettered F, O, H, and K.)
Thirteen infants (3 boys and 10 girls), met with their deaths from suffocation in one
way or another.
A summary of the foregoing statistics, relative to the localities chiefly affected
by the diseases of St. Giles's, is given in the diagram which accompanies this report.
The amount and nature of the improvement or deterioration of the public health,
within each of the ten sub-divisions, is there indicated.
My examination of the mortality statistics of St. Giles's, in 1858, is now completed.
In the course of it, I have had occasion to ind'cate several sources of possible
error, which made it necessary to use caution in our deductions from mere figures. I
have now to direct attention to a circumstance of a very enigmatical nature, which if
not distinctly noticed, might be held to invalidate several of my conclusions.
Throughout the whole enquiry, the population of the district has been presumed
to be known, and every calculation has had reference, directly or indirectly, to this
knowledge. If it should turn out that the population has notably altered its numbers,
not according to any law of progression hitherto experienced, but in some entirely new
and anomalous manner, doubt may reasonably be thrown on the accuracy of statements
which assume the number of inhabitants for their basis.
Now, it appears from my enquiries, that in the year 1858, the number of
Births in St. Giles's district was very remarkably below the average. In former years
they had exhibited a tolerable constancy, though showing some disposition to fall off in
numbers :
Thus, in 1851, there were 1862 Births.
In 1852, „ 1849 „
In 1854, „ 1826 „
In 1857, (corrected to 52 weeks) 1814 „
In the year 1858, therefore, we should expect to find the births, about or not much
below the last figure, 1814. Some cause, however, was in operation over the whole
metropolis, to depress the birth-rate of the year. Making further proportionate
allowance for this, theestimated number of children to be born into St. Giles's, in 1858,
would become 1800. It is ascertained, however, that sixteen fewer births occurred in
1858, among the stranger-patients at the Lying-in Hospital, than in 1857; so that
after every possible correction for artificial and extrinsic sources of fallacy, we look
for 1784 births, on the books of the registrars during the past year.