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14
Among "patients treated at their own homes" there has been an excess
of cases of measles and whooping-cough; whilst there has been a diminution of
cases of scarlet-fever and diarrhoea as compared with last year. Bronchitis,
however, was especially prevalent, the attacks having been 730 against 299
in 1868; and the deaths 110 against 53. Pneumonia, like bronchitis, was
particularly frequent and fatal. These results might be expected from what
has already been stated with reference to the mortality from diseases of the
lungs throughout the District.
The attacks of relapsing fever both among patients applying at the
"Workhouse and those treated at their own homes are returned as 64; but
having already reported separately on this disease, I think it unnecessary
now to dilate upon it.
The Bloomsbury Dispensary. The large number of 5045 cases have been
under the care of the Physicians and Surgeons of this useful Institution
during the past year. The largest aggregate of cases admitted was in the
second quarter of the year, whilst the largest mortality was in the third
quarter; thus confirming a remark I made last year as to the unequal incidence
of the sick-rate and the death-rate in the several quarters, and the
consequent importance of a register of cases for the early detection of
epidemic disease and its prompt suppression.

The British Lying-in Hospital.—The number of women attended in this
institution during the year was 172, of whom three died from puerperal
fever; three of the children also died, one of them just after birth. The
still-births were nine in number, seven of which were males. There were
only eleven women delivered in this charity during the year who belonged
to St. Giles District; five of them to the Parish of St. Giles, and six to
Bloomsbury. Three deaths from puerperal fever in 172 deliveries is a large
ratio. Although it may not be true, as some authors assert, that this
disease was never known until lying-in hospitals were established, yet it is
certain that they induce this mortal malady and are the chief cause of its
maintenance.
The Infants' Home.—A different system from that formerly carried out
here has been introduced within the last two years. Only a certain number
of infants are retained in Great Coram Street; whilst the majority are sent
out to be nursed by women who are paid about five shillings a week for each
child. Forty-five infants were admitted into the institution last year, and
at the time of my visit there were twenty-five in the house. Ninety-seven
had been sent out. There had been five deaths among those who had been
received into the house ; three of them from tuberculous disease, one from congenital
syphilis, and one from pneumonia. Among the ninety-seven sent out to
be nursed there had been twenty-two deaths; so that, in fact, there had been