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54 deaths in institutions.
inquests were held with reference to deaths of parishioners. The nett total of deaths
of residents certified after Coroner's inquisition was 152, 37 less than in 1908, and equal to 7*7
per cent. of the corrected total of deaths during the year, as compared with a mean proportion
of 8.4 during the preceding quinquennium. A classification of the findings of the juries
is given in Table 40, last year's numbers being compared with the averages for the five years
1904-08. There were fewer findings of "natural'' and "accidental" causes, but more of
"misadventure" and "neglect." The number of deaths from "suicide" increased from an
average of 14 to 21 last year.

The deaths inquired into included 3 which are classed under "alcoholism," 2 under
"injury at birth," and 1 from food poisoning. The deaths by accident and violence comprised
13 from vehicular traffic; 2 accidental to building operations; 6 from burns and scalds; 4
from poisons of various descriptions; 4 by drowning; 5 by overlaying; 5 from suffocation
through other agencies; 8 through falls; and 5 from other accidents. The 21 suicides were
effected by poison in 7 cases; by suffocation (mostly coal gas) in 3; by shooting in 1; by
knife (razor) in 4; by precipitation in 4; and by crushing in 1.
DEATHS IN INSTITUTIONS.
In 1907 there were 770 deaths in the local public institutions; in 1908, 815; and last
year, 813. The deaths in each of these institutions during the past year exceeded the annual
average for the preceding ten years. (See Table V., Appendix.) The causes of deaths are
given in Table VI., Appendix, with the numbers of non-residents in each case. The total
deaths of non-residents was 352, and of residents in out-lying institutions, 193, so that the
nett total of deaths of residents in institutions was 628, or 34 less than the number in 1908,
and equal to 31.9 per cent. of the corrected total of deaths during the year. In 1908 the
proportion was 35 per cent., and the mean proportion for the five years 1904-08, 31.6 per cent.
The proportions of institutional to all deaths in the Wards are given below in comparison
with the mean proportions. The only Ward in which there was a material decrease in the
proportion was Lancaster Gate, West. In four Wards there were increased proportions, that
in Queen's Park (9.2 per cent.) being the greatest.