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1905]
86
Thus it appears that the returns generally show that there are fewer
deaths credited to those diseases usually associated with alcoholism, and that
they are a true indication of the more temperate habits of the people there
can be little doubt, for, simultaneously with this decline, the Excise Authorities
have shown in their recent reports a distinct falling off in the revenue
derived from alcoholic beverages.
DEATHS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The returns of the deaths in the Public Institutions and Hospitals are, it
has been frequently pointed out, to some extent a gauge of the poverty of the
people, as it affords a good indication of the amount of relief that has been
given by medical charities. Assuming that this is so, then there can be no
doubt that the year through which we have just passed, as well as 1904,
have been hard ones for the people, for more persons died in these
institutions than in each of the preceding two years, and indeed the return,
with the exception of that for 1899 and for 1902, was the highest of which note
has been taken in Islington. Nevertheless, the excess of deaths has not been
great, for an examination of the returns given in Table LXVII. shows that they
had only amounted to 5 when compared with the preceding year, and with 42
in 1903. In 1902, however, the return amounted to 1,646 as against 1,581
now recorded, and with an average of 1,470 in the 10 years 1895-1904.
The proportion of deaths in the Public Institutions was 31 per cent, of
the deaths from all causes as compared with 26.3 per cent, in the preceding
10 years, which is a notable increase.
Within the Borough.—During the year 1,526 persons died in the
Public Institutions of Islington, of whom 962 were residents and 564 were
non-residents who had gone to them to be treated for the diseases from which
they ultimately died.
The greater proportion of the strangers, 357 in number, died in the
Holborn Infirmary, Archway Road.
Residents.—By far the larger proportion of the 962 residents died in the
Workhouse Infirmary, they numbered 680; in addition to whom 129 died in
the Workhouse, while 126 died in the Great Northern Central Hospital, and
3 in the Holborn Infirmary. Besides these, there was 1 death in the