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the number of deaths ascribed to it, but it is satisfactory to note
that it is credited with having been the cause of 25 deaths only
against 37 deaths in 1898 and 34 in 1897.
The Registrar General's Report shows that Measles was the
certified cause of 2,143 deaths in the Metropolis, against 3,075
for 1898, and 1,929 for 1897. The Metropolitan death-rate was
equal to 0.47 per 1,000 as compared with 0.62, the decennial
average rate.
Influenza.—Thirty deaths were ascribed to Influenza during
the year, a number three times as great as the record for 1898.
There was a marked increase also in the number of deaths from
Influenza in London, during the year the figures being 1,817, and
the greatest number recorded since 1895.
Phthisis.— I regret to say that the improvement I was able to
record in my last Report with respect to the deaths from Phthisis
has not been maintained during the past year, and that St. Luke
again is among the highest in the list of London Sanitary
Districts with respect to deaths from this cause. The number
of deaths which occurred in the Parish from this disease was 114,
of which 54 took place at the Royal Hospital for Diseases of the
Chest, and 49 of these being non-parishioners may be deducted.
On the other hand, 79 parishioners died from the malady in
Institutions outside the parochial area, making a total of 144
belonging to St. Luke; equal to a death-rate of 3.55 per
1,000 living, the next highest being St. George the Martyr,
Southwark, with 3.53 per 1,000, while of the more highly
favoure 1 districts Hampstead furnished 0.84 and Stoke Newington
0.88 per 1,000.
In continuation of the work commenced at the early part of
1898 enquiries have been made respecting every death certified
as due to Phthisis during the past year, the scope of such
enquiry having relation to the occupation, habits and environment
of the deceased person. The co-operation of Medical men
practising in the District has also been solicited and an offer
made in every case of death due to this, as in every other infectious
case, to disinfect the rooms, bedding, clothing, &c.,but such
offer has only been accepted in five instances out of 144 deaths
from the disease.