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53
INQUEST CASES.
These two groups of diseases were accountable for '270 out of 455 deaths, and by far the
greater proportion of such deaths were preventible. Ten deaths were due to suffocation whilst in
bed with the parent(s).
Illegitimate Mortality.—Sixty-three deaths of illegitimate children were recorded, of whom 55
were under one year of age. The infantile mortality was at the rate of 413 per 1,000 illegitimate
children born, compared with a rate of 124 among legitimate children. Inquests were held with
reference to 6 deaths of illegitimates. Information as to causes of deaths and occupations of the
mothers will be found in Tables 33 and 34.
INQUEST GASES.
In the Borough 211 deaths were registered after inquest, 59 of the deceased persons being
non-residents. Outside the Borough 15 inquests were held with reference to deaths of residents.
The nett total of deaths registered on the Coroner's certificate was 107, equal to 8.1 per cent. of all
deaths. (See Table 35, next page.)
Suicide.—The deaths from suicide in the Borough (13) were 2 below the average, but
were above the average by the same amount in St. John's Registration Sub-District. There was no
death from this cause in North-West Paddington.
DEATHS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
In Table VI., Appendix (page 69), will be found the numbers of deaths recorded from local
and outlying institutions. In the Borough 658 deaths were recorded in institutions, 301 of the
deceased persons being non-residents. In outlying institutions, 218 deaths were recorded
(17 taking place in the streets, private houses, &c.). In all 458 deaths of residents, equal to 22 2 per
cent. of all deaths, were returned from public institutions. Table VII., Appendix, gives the
figures for the past 10 years for the Local Institutions.
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
The usual statistical summary of inspections made and works completed will be found in
Table VIII. in the Appendix (page 70.)
Prevention of Infectious Disease.—The routine adopted after notification of cases has been
described in former reports. The visits made by the Staff in connection with such cases totalled 1,855
last year compared with 1,544 in 1900, in addition to which the Medical Officer of Health visited many
of the cases, but no statistical record has been made of such visits. “Letters of Advice,” covering
extracts from the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and the Factory and Workshops Acts, were
sent out to 156 homes, or 73 more than in 1900. The Department disinfected 1,227 rooms during
the year, as compared with 1,002 in 1900 (measles epidemic) and 767 in 1899. In 13 cases the
disinfection was done privately.
Notification.—A somewhat peculiar defect in the notification provisions of the Public Health
Act has come to knowledge during the year. A certain practitioner not on the Medical Register
failed to report two cases of infectious illness which he had under treatment. When proceedings
were initiated they were found to be useless, on the ground that while the Act provides for
notification by the householder and certification by the medical practitioner (the words used in
Section 55 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, are "Every medical practitioner"), the
reference in the Act is to a "medical practitioner" registered under Section 34 of the Medical Act,
1858. Although proceedings might lie against a householder who failed to notify an infectious
case in his household under the care of an unregistered practitioner, it is doubtful whether
guilty knowledge could be established against the householder.