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6
The mortality from Epidemic diseases in each year since 1860 is
shown in Table No. 7. Estimating the population at 78,000, the rate of
mortality from Epidemic diseases has been l.89 per cent., and from Cholera
alone it has been at the rate of 1.15 per cent. But by deducting the deaths
of non-residents, the rate of mortality from Cholera is reduced to 0.72 per cent.

Deaths from Pyæmia are of frequent occurrence in the London Hospital.
In the last volume of Clinical Lectures and Reports published in 1866, and
prepared by the medical and surgical staff of the Hospital, it appears that
in 20 cases of amputation of the thigh, 7 died from Pyæmia, and two more
deaths are recorded from the same disease after other operations. The
frequency of this disease is a matter which calls for the serious attention,
not only of the medical staff, but also of the governing body of the Hospital.
As this disease, when occurring in hospitals, is generally supposed to be
caused by some defect in the sanitary arrangements of those institutions, I
take leave to urge the consideration of this important matter upon all the
parties interested in the welfare of the sick admitted within their walls. I
am certain, from my personal knowledge of the members of the Medical
Staff and of the Committee of the London Hospital, that all are actuated by
the most humane feelings to those poor persons who are entrusted to their
care, and that every thing that can be suggested by the Medical Officers to
improve the sanitary condition of the Hospital, so as to diminish the amount
of mortality from any cause, will be readily carried out by the Committee.
In order to accomplish this object, it would be desirable that a Report be
prepared by the . whole Medical Staff, assisted by the Lecturer on Chemistry,
pointing out where sanitary defects exist, and in what manner they can be
remedied, and lay the joint Report before the Committee of the Hospital.