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The deaths from diseases of the urinary organs were 12; of these, 6
were caused by nephria or Bright's diseases. Convulsions caused the deaths
of 24 children.
The deaths of 6 persons who committed suicide are recorded, and 2 of
persons who were accidentally drowned.
There were 11 deaths from premature birth, 5 from teething, 15 from
atrophy and debility, and 1 death from congenital syphilis.
The deaths of 15 persons are attributed to age; 3 deaths of persons
under the age of 70 are thus registered, "premature decay," and "senile
decay." "This mode of return should only be employed when the cause of
death is not traceable to definite disease." The deaths of persons above 80
years of age were 10.
There were 22 deaths from mechanical violence: of these, 5 were caused
by vehicles in the streets. Burns and scalds wore fatal to 3 persons.
Five children were suffocated in bed, and a man, aged 46, was suffocated
"whilst drunk."
The number of inquests has been 59. In the corresponding Quarter of
last year, the number was 57.
The mortality of children, under 5 years of age, has been 248 ; this is
40.8 per cent, of the total deaths; but in the Spitalfields sub-District the rate
of mortality of children under 5 to the total deaths, is 62.9 per cent. In the
corresponding Quarter of the previous year, the rate of mortality of young
children to the total deaths was 40.3 per cent.
Uncertified Deaths.
The number of deaths which have not been certified by a medical
practitioner amounts to 14. This is 2.1 per cent, of the total deaths. Four
of the "uncertified deaths" were said to have been of children prematurely
born. Several of these uncertified deaths are recorded in technical language,
viz., "cerebral meningitis," "erysipelas," "epilepsy," and "marasmus."
These certificates may have been supplied by persons who have some knowledge
of medicine, but who are unqualified to practise as medical men.
The subject of uncertified deaths demands more attention than has
hitherto been given to it by the public and by those in authority. A loose
mode in the registration of deaths affords facilities for secret murder. A
certificate of death not duly signed by a registered medical practitioner
should not be returned by the registrar, unless the particulars attending the
death are investigated by a public officer. In England 2 per cent, of the
. total deaths are uncertified. In London rather more than 1 per cent, of the
deaths are uncertified. During this Quarter therefore, a larger proportional
amount of uncertified deaths has been recorded in this District than in the
other districts in the Metropolis.