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Altogether 356 persons, residents in Shoreditch, died outside the parish. Of
the 2,626 persons belonging to Shoreditch, who died during the year, 745 or 28.5 per
cent. died in public institutions, as compared with 25.5 per cent. last year. For the
whole of London the percentage was 29.1. Of the 745 persons dying in public
institutions, 276 belonged to Haggerston, 149 to Hoxton New Town, 141 to Hoxton
Old Town, and 179 to South Shoreditch (Appendix, see table XXXII.).
SICKNESS AMONGST THE POOR.
In forming an opinion upon this subject it is necessary to take into consideration
the state of trade, the abundance, or otherwise, of employment, but judging from the
number of patients coming under the treatment of the district medical officers of
the parish, it would appear that sickness was less prevalent amongst the poor during
the year 1897, as compared with previous years; some 3,526 persons received medical
advice and treatment, as against 4,032 in 1896, 4,690 in 1895, 4,297 in 1894, and 5,383
in 1893. An analysis of the cases treated during 1897 is shewn in table XXXIII. (see
Appendix). There was a marked decrease in the number of persons suffering from the
various zymotic diseases, 530 coming under the treatment, as compared with 697 in
1896, 921 in 1895, 740 in 1894, and 909 in 1893. Cases of rheumatism, rheumatic
fever and gout were somewhat more numerous than last year. Cases of diseases of
the heart and blood vessels were increased, as compared with the number for 1896.
There were 919 cases of persons suffering from various diseases of the organs of
respiration, as compared with 1,083 in 1896, 1,250 in 1895, 1,092 in 1894, and 1,495
in 1893. Cases of bronchitis numbered 832, as compared with 963 in 1896, and 1,122
in 1895.
The cases diagnosed as cancer numbered 15 as compared with 21 in 1896, 15 in
1895, 27 in 1894, and 23 in 1893.
Cases of diseases of the locomotive system, including chronic ulcers of the legs,
numbered 112, as compared with 145 last year; there was also a diminution in
the number of cases of skin diseases treated. The number of cases of disorder due
to violence shew a slight decrease as compared with last year. Under the heading
poison are included cases of lead poisoning.
Causes other than those specified in the table accounted for 411 cases, as compared
with 578 in 1896, and 655 in 1895.
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ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
Of the 874 deaths due to diseases classed under the above heading, which form
32.5 per cent. of the total deaths in the parish, 535 or 61.2 per cent. were of children
under the age of five years. In Shoreditch South the deaths numbered 126; in
Hoxton New Town 188; in Hoxton Old Town 197, and in Haggerston 363.
The principal zymotic diseases, viz., small pox, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria,
including membranous croup, whooping cough, enteric fever, including continued
fever, and diarrhœa caused 513 deaths, being at the rate of 4.2 per 1,000 inhabitants
as compared with 4.3 in 1896 and 3.8 in 1895. The death-rate of the
Metropolis due to the principal zymotic diseases for the year 1897 was 2.58. In