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The deaths which occurred at various periods of life were 16
under one year, 9 between one and five years, 19 between five and
sixty years, and 6 above sixty years.
The Inquest cases were: —found drowned 1, accidental
asphyxia 2, convulsions 1, general debility 1.
I have made inquiries about the mortality and alleged
nuisance in Major Road. The causes of death appear to have been
croup and scarlatina. When a case of croup occurs in a house
where the drain is not kept trapped, where the cistern requires to be
cleansed, and where fowls and rabbits are kept in a small back yard
I should hesitate before I referred the cause of the disease exclusively
to the presence of a dust heap on adjoining premises. With regard
to scarlet fever, which is well known to be a very contagious
disease, I would observe that several of the memorialists are not
only neighbours but friends and relatives, and as they have resided
in these houses, one, four, seven or eight years, without any serious
illness occurring until eight or nine weeks ago, and as the same
disease has lately prevailed in the adjoining street, I am unable to
attribute its existence to the fact of some putrid poxrk having been
buried in Mr. Hart's ground during the summer of 1878.
July 19th, 1880.
During the fortnight that ended on the 10th day of
July, 176 births and 50 deaths were registered in Bermondsey.
The former were above, and the latter were below the average.
These numbers are equal to an annual birth rate of 45.8, and to an
annual rate of mortality of 13.0 per 1000 of the estimated population.
The death rate in London during the same period was 18. 7
per 1000.
The causes of death included 11 from the principal zymotic
diseases, viz:—1 from measles, 2 from scarlet fever, 1 from
diphtheria, 4 from whooping cough, and 3 from diarrhœa.
From diseases of the organs of respiration there were 12 deaths
viz bronchitis 4, pneumonia 6, croup 1, and congestion of the
lungs 1.
There were only 5 deaths from diseases of the tubercular class,
viz:—phthisis 2, tabes 1, and meningitis 2.
The deaths which occurred at various periods of life were 17
under one year, 12 between one and five years, 14 between five and
sixty years, and 7 above sixty years.