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There were 246 deaths of persons from 60 to 70 years of age. Consumption
caused 16 deaths, diarrhœa 7, cancer 16, apoplexy 23, heart disease 30, diseases of the
respiratory organs 72, including 57 from bronchitis, diseases of the digestive organs
22, Bright's disease 6, violence 9, including 4 cases of suicide, old age 5, and causes
not specified or ill-defined 17.
Of persons aged from 70 to 85 years, 223 died. Influenza caused 4 deaths
diarrhœa 4, erysipelas 2, cancer 10, apoplexy 17, heart disease 18, diseases of the
respiratory organs 69, including 56 from bronchitis, Bright's disease 6, violence 4,
and old age 64.
There were 30 deaths of persons over 85 years of age, of which 1 was attributed
to cancer, and 1 to apoplexy, 5 were due to bronchitis, and 3 to pneumonia, 1 died of
of weakness, and 19 of old age.
Diseases classed as zymotic caused 874 deaths, as compared with 866 in 1896,
950 in 1895, 759 in 1894, and 1,048 in 1893; these will be dealt with more especially
later on. Local diseases (see table XXX. Appendix) caused 1,202 deaths, as compared
with 1,194 in 1896, 1,347 in 1895, 1,132 in 1894, and 1,446 in 1893. Of these,
diseases of the respiratory organs caused 542 deaths, mostly due to bronchitis and
pneumonia, which were more prevalent in Shoreditch during the fourth quarter of
the year. The deaths from pneumonia numbered 234, as compared with 220 last
year, and the deaths from bronchitis were 285, or three more than in 1896. Diseases
of the nervous system accounted for 303 deaths, 149 of which were of children
under five years of age. Of these, convulsions caused 115 deaths, apoplexy and
paralysis 97, and various forms of insanity 28. This latter figure does not represent
the number of persons belonging to Shoreditch dying in Asylums whilst insane, as a
reference to table XIX. will shew. A large number of persons who are suffering from
mental disease die from intercurrent bodily disorders.
Diseases of the circulatory system caused 170 deaths, 40 of which were attributed
to valvular disease and 111 to heart disease not stated to be due to valvular trouble.
Disorders of the digestive organs caused 109 deaths. Of these 41 were attributed
to enteritis, 33 being of children under five years of age. The majority of these
deaths occurred during the time summer diarrhœa was prevalent. There were
19 deaths due to peritonitis, 14 to obstruction of the intestines, and 19 to cirrhosis
of the liver. Bright's disease of the kidneys accounted for 49 deaths, as compared
with 70 in 189G, and 57 in 1895.
Developmental diseases caused 178 deaths, 70 of which were attributed to
prematurity or debility at birth, and 88 to old age, of which 83 were of persons aged
70 years and upwards, 19 being over 85 years of age.