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infants from suffocation in bed. My experience tells me, that
these deaths arise in almost every case from great carelessness, and
sometimes from culpable criminality. A return of these cases has
lately been ordered by the Secretary of State, which will probably
give rise to some legal enactment upon the subject. During the
year we had nine deaths from this cause, which is I believe an unusually
small number considering our population, as compared
with many other districts.
As a matter of interest it may be worthy of record, that during
the twelve months past, the week ending October 15th, was least
fatal to us, only 8 died. The week ending July 30th (remarkable
for excessive heat) the most fatal, when 37 died. The greatest
number of births took place in the last week of January, when our
population was added to, by the very unusual and unprecedented
number of 75. There were only two weeks when the births were
fewer than the deaths; these were the last weeks in February and
in March.
Owing to some slight discrepancies between the printed returns
of the Registrar General and those in manuscript, I am not able
to give the exact number of births and deaths, but I will do so
now approximately, intending only necessary corrections in the
press. In the twelve months, the deaths I take at 1269, and the
births at 2247. In justice to those concerned, I must record the
fact, that only three women died in childbirth. —A most satisfactory
circumstance, not alone as a proof of the salubrity of our
district, but also one of the very successful practice of the art of
midwifery by the resident Medical Practitioners.
As regards sanitary works, and precautions taken during the
year for the prevention of sickness, I find from a report of Mr.
O'Brian, your Inspector of Nuisances, to whose activity and intelligence
upon all occasions I most cheerfully bear testimony, that
there have been abolished 195 cesspools, with the substitution of
good and effectual drainage and the appliances of pans and traps ;
22 offensive accumulations removed, 5 arising from trades; 20
houses in a filthy and unwholesome condition, certified and remedied;
43 animals kept, so as to be a nuisance and injurious to
health, removed; 44 slaughter houses inspected and reported upon;
30 marine-store dealers visited, reported upon, and revisited
Before concluding this Report, I may I trust, be excused for
offering most heartily my thanks to the Gentlemen of the Vestry
for their earnest co-operation and aid upon all occasions. A consciousness
of this support is most encouraging to me, your Officer