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Altogether 369 residents died outside the parish and 353 of these in public
institutions. Of the 2,622 persons belonging to the parish dying during the year, 671
or 25.5 per cent. died in public institutions as compared with 27.7 per cent. for the
whole of London. Of the 671 deaths in public institutions, 140 belonged to Shoreditch
South, 138 to Hoxton New Town, 125 to Hoxton Old Town, and 268 to Haggerston
(see Appendix Table XXVII).
ILLNESS AMONGST THE POOR.
Sickness was less prevalent amongst the poor in the parish during 1896, some
4,082 patients coming under the treatment of the district medical officers, as compared
with 4,690 in 1895, 4,297 in 1894 and 5,383 in 1893. An analysis of the cases is
shewn in table XXVIII. (see appendix, page 54). There is a decrease in the number of
cases of zymotic diseases, 697 being treated as compared with 921 in 1895, 740 in
1894, and 909 in 1893. Measles, influenza, diarrhoea and tubercular diseases are
decreased, whilst scarlet fever, diphtheria, erysipelas and enteric fever shew an
increase. Diseases of the respiratory organs numbered 1,083 cases as compared with
1,250 in 1895 and 1,092 in 1894, the decrease being due to the diminution in the
number of cases of bronchitis, 963 coming under treatment as compared with 1,122 in
1895. Under the heading "bronchitis" are included cases diagnosed as acute
bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, bronchial catarrh, and cough. Gases cf rheumatic
fever were more numerous, but rheumatism was not quite so prevalent as in 1895.
The number of cases of cancer shews an increase on the number of last year, 21
coming under observation as compared with 15 in 1895, 27 in 1894 and 23 in 1893.
Diseases of the locomotive system, which include chronic ulcers of the legs, shew
a slight diminution in number as also do diseases of the skin. Disorders due to
violence shew an increase. Under the heading poison are included cases of lead
poisoning. Causes other than those mentioned in the table accounted for 578 cases
of illness as compared with 655 in 1895.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
Diseases classed under the above heading have not been quite so fatal this year
as last; but they caused 866 deaths, of which 545 were of children under five years of
age. In Shoreditch South there were 115 deaths; in Hoxton New Town 195; in
Hoxton Old Town 173, and in Haggerston 383. The seven principal zymotic
diseases, viz., small pox, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, including membranous
croup, whooping cough, enteric fever, and diarrhœa caused 532 deaths, the zymotic
death rate being 4.3 per 1,000 inhabitants as compared with 3.8 in 1895. The
London death-rate due to these diseases for the year 1896 was 3.11. Amongst the
four registration districts of the parish, Haggerston has the highest zymotic death rate,
viz., 5.0 per 1,000, and Hoxton Old Town the lowest, viz., 3.5.