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Two deaths not certified were registered as due to convulsions.
This term seem to be generally adopted when the cause of death in
children is unknown. I have no doubt it covers a large amount of
ignorance and neglect.
After having been for five consecutive weeks considerably
above the average, the number of deaths in London has during the
last fortnight been 290 below the average. Whooping cough
continues to be unusually prevalent, the number of deaths being 84
per week above the average.
April 5th, 1880.
During the three weeks that ended on the 27th day of
March, 209 births and 95 deaths were registered in Bermondsey.
These numbers are equal to an annual birth rate of 36.2, and to an
annual rate of mortality of 16.5 per 1000 of the estimated population.
The death rate in London during the corresponding period
was 20·9.
The number of deaths referred to the principal zymotic
diseases was 14, viz:—to scarlet fever 7, diphtheria 2, whooping
cough 4, and diarrhœa 1.
Diseases of the organs of respiration caused 24 deaths,
of which 18 were from bronchitis, 4 from pneumonia, 1 from asthma
and 1 from croup.
From tubercular diseases there were 21 deaths, viz:-phthisis
12, hydrocephalus 6, and tabes 3.
The other registered causes of death included 11 from diseases
of the brain and nervous system, 3 from heart disease, and 8 from
natural decay.
One Inquest was held, and 1 death was not certified.
The deaths which occurred at various periods of life were, 2
under one year, 17 between one and five years, 37 between five an
sixty years, and 17 above sixty years of age.
After having experienced an unusually high death rate a few
weeks ago, it is a very gratifying circumstance that the rate of
mortality during the last 3 weeks has been much below that of the
corresponding period in the previous three years.