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The deaths of such infants were due to the following causes:—
Small-pox, 2; measles, 13; scarlet fever, 2; whooping cough, 12;
diphtheria, 3; epidemic diarrhoea, 42; other bowel complaints accompanied
by diarrhoea (simple enteritis), 21; syphilis, 10; septic
diseases, 3; tubercular affections, 18; premature birth, 66; debility at
birth, 24; injury at birth, 6; congenital defects, 23; improper
feeding, 2; rickets, 8; marasmus (wasting), 22; teething, 8; convulsions,
34; meningitis, 10; other diseases of nervous system, 4; bronchitis
and other respiratory diseases, 86; gastric affections, 10; neglect at
birth, 4; suffocation in bed with parents, 9.
With regard to the last, seven of these deaths occurred between
Saturday night and Tuesday morning; the fact that the majority of
deaths from this cause occur between those days has been commented
upon by the Coroners in all parts of London, and is evidently connected
with the greater amount of alcohol consumed than on other days of the
week. It would be interesting to trace out the dates of the other
causes of death, as no doubt illnesses arise from neglect at that time,
although not so immediately fatal. Again, although only two deaths
are directly ascribed to improper feeding, many others, as those ascribed
to rickets, marasmus, diarrhoea, and stomach troubles, must be due to
this cause. Many mothers have no knowledge of the proper manner in
which to rear their children, and not only might the death-rate be
reduced by proper instruction on the subject, but a stronger race of
men and women might be reared if the children were fed in suitable
manner.
32 of the 442 deaths were among illegitimate children, equal
to a rate of 172 per 1,000 illegitimate children born, as compared
with a rate of 125 among the legitimate. These deaths were due to
syphilis, 4; tubercular disease, 1; respiratory diseases, 3; neglect at
birth, 4; premature and debility at birth, 8; suffocation in bed, 2;
improper feeding, 1; marasmus, 2; convulsions, 2; whooping cough, 1;
diarrhoea, 4.
Deaths over 65 years of age. These were 762 in number, and were
distributed thus:—
Conduit Ward 12 St. Anne Ward 30
Grosvenor Ward 56 Great Marlborough Ward 39
Hamlet Ward 16 Pall Mall Ward 14
Knightsbridge St. George Ward 48 Regent Ward 34
Charing Cross Ward 11
Victoria Ward 200 Co vent Garden Ward 40
St. Margaret Ward 51 Strand Ward 43
St. John Ward 168