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15
It may be assumed by many who do not think deeply, or who do
not consider rightly as regards the causes of disease, that the
increased mortality, above alluded to, is not after all of such magnitude as to demand particular attention.
It may be assumed that the rapid increase of population in this
District would be alone sufficient to admit of a yearly increase in
the number of deaths.
It may also be assumed that, inasmuch as the past year numbered
a greater amount of deaths, not only in the Metropolis but also
throughout the country, this District must be expected to bear its
fair proportion of that increased mortality.
Such assumptions will scarcely hold good. It is true that all
diseases, and more particularly those arising from epidemic influences, are subjected to considerable fluctuations. One disease will
rage and extend its ravages during one year, and another disease
will partake of the same virulence during the following year; but
they are on that account not the less under human controul.
Thus in the year 1857, there were only 22 deaths referred to
Scarlatina, yet in the year 1858 were numbered 92 from the same
disease. In 1857 Measles carried off 12 children, whereas 66 died
from Measles in 1858. The same observations will apply to all
Epidemic Diseases; and on referring to the foregoing Tables it will
be seen that the increased mortality during the past year must be
attributed almost entirely to Epidemic Disease.
The cause of the prevalence of Epidemics during one year more
than another is somewhat obscure; but the causes of the mortality
arising from such maladies can be easily demonstrated.
It has been clearly proved in the various publications issued by
the Board of Health, that the mortality from Cholera, when it made
its appearance in London in 1849, was due, in a very large proportion
of cases, to the emanations of night-soil floating in the air; to
emanations from cesspools and sewers; to the impurities of the
water in wells; to the water supplied by some of the water companies;
and also to the emanations from the waters of the Thames.
In the year 1854, when the Cholera again made its appearance, it
was observed, that over the same Districts, the virulence of the
disease was much lessened, in fact, in some parts, it scarcely made