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SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
of
The Medical Officer of Health
for the
GREENWICH DISTRICT.
To the Greenwich District Board of Works.
Gentlemen,
In this, my Sixth Annual Report, I have again the
honor of laying before you, in the annexed Tables, such
general information as will enable you to examine the sanitary
condition of your District during the past year of 1861, and
also to make comparisons between that and the five preceding
years.
In the first four Tables is shown the number of Births and
Deaths, the ages at which these Deaths took place, and the
principal Diseases which caused them.
The first quarter of the year, as will be observed on referring
to Table No. 1, commenced with a somewhat excessive
mortality, which excess appears to have shown itself more
particularly amongst aged persons, 159 having died above
the age of 60 years; 49 above the age of 80; and 6 above
the age of 90 years. At the same time it was observed that
the heavy mortality amongst these aged persons resulted, in
a great measure, from Chest Diseases, which diseases had
reference to the severe weather and low temperature at that
season. As the season advanced and the temperature
increased, the mortality, as seen in Table No. 2, was sensibly
diminished, chiefly amongst persons at the period of life
above referred to, and attributable greatly to the mitigation
of the excess of Chest Diseases amongst such persons.