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17
that appear annually to destroy very large numbers of your population.
It will be seen from Table No. 10, that, in addition to the deaths
already enumerated as arising from Epidemic Diseases, 261 persons
died during the past year from Pulmonary Pthisis, being an increase
of 21 deaths from that disease on the previous year of 1857 ; and,
on examining the foregoing Tables, it will appear that a greater
number die annually in this District from Consumption than from
any other disease. It is a generally received opinion that, independent
of an hereditary disposition, a foul and damp atmosphere and
defective ventilation, are among the chief causes to which the
production of Consumption is to be attributed.
In the Report on the Sanitary Condition of the Army, lately
published, it was proved, that a very high mortality arose from
Consumption, and it was assumed that such mortality proceeded in
a great measure from the narrow space allotted to each soldier in
the barrack and guard-rooms. Many similar examples could be
brought forward to elucidate the causes of this disease; but to
investigate the whole of the causes contributing to the production
of Pthisis, would occupy more time and space than could be allotted
in this Report.
Bronchitis, Pneumonia, and other Chest Affections, were also
unusually fatal. Exclusive of Pthisis, 493 persons died from
diseases of the Respiratory Organs. These deaths were distributed
through the four quarters of the year in the following proportions :
in the first, 154; second, 130; third, 60; and in the fourth
quarter 149 deaths were registered. The mean temperature during
the same periods was 38°, 54°, 61°, and 44°; from which it will be
seen that the deaths increased in number in proportion as the temperature
decreased; and on referring to Table No. 1, it will also be
observed, that the deaths from Pthisis corresponded with the
increase or decline of temperature.
21 deaths were registered from Croup, 10 of which took place
during the last quarter of the year, the greater portion of which
occurred in the month of November, following the unusual degree
of cold which prevailed at that period.
65 deaths arose from Intestinal and Diseases of the Digestive