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It thus appears that while little variation in the per centage of deaths from phthisis
has taken place since last year, the West Sub-district continues to present the higher
mortality from this disease.
12. As with the mortality from diseases of the zymotic class, Tables V. and VI.
show where that from tubercular diseases and from phthisis has been principally
observed. As respects the whole class, Wards 1, 4, 6, and 8 have, more or less, exceeded
the mean for the whole parish, Upper Holloway and St. Mary's Wards being
the most remarkable in this respect; Canonbury, Lower Holloway, and Barnsbury
presenting the smallest proportion to all the deaths that occurred in them. With
respect to phthisis, the mortality exceeded the mean in Wards 1 and 6 only; it closely
approached the mean in Wards 4 and 5; and was greatly below it in Lower Holloway
and Canonbury Wards. There are so many circumstances to be taken into consideration
in estimating the value of these results, that I shall content myself at present
with merely recording them.
c. Diseases of the Organs of Respiration.
13. Four hundred and twenty-two persons—200 males, and 222 females died during
the year of affections, mostly inflammatory, of the lungs and other organs engaged in the
function of respiration. This was 17.5 per cent. of all the deaths which occurred in
the parish, and 2 93 per 1,000 of all living. In the West Sub-district the number
was 241, or 18.6 per cent. of all deaths, and 3.21 per 1000 of the population, and in
the East 181, or 16 2 per cent. of all deaths, and 2.62 per 1,000 of those living.
The mortality from these diseases has thus been 0.5 per cent. higher than last year, the
excess being partly due to the slight prevalence of Influenza at the latter end of the
year.
It appears from Table V., that the largest proportion of deaths from diseases of this
class occurred in Thornhill Ward, which alone materially exceeded the mean mortality
of the parish. It appears to have impressed upon the West Sub-district the excess of
mortality from respiratory diseases which it exhibits.
AGE AT DEATH.
14. The more extended manner in which I have tabulated the deaths this year
enables me to enter at greater length into this important subject than I did in my
last year's report. In Table I. the deaths are arranged in periods of one year up to
the age of 5 years, then in quinquennial periods up to 15 years, and then onwards
in bi-quinquennial periods. It will be interesting while studying this Table to compare
it with the corresponding Table in my last year's report.
I desire especially to direct your attention to the deaths of children under 5 years
0f age —of those who are to form a considerable portion of the future population of
the parish—and on whose healthiness now will greatly depend the capability to labour
and of self-support when they arrive at maturer years. Recollect that the causes of
mortality operate still more extensively in debilitating those who do not die under their
influence, and in predisposing them to suffer from the various unhealthy conditions
to which they may be unavoidably exposed in future life.
15. The following Table represents the infant mortality of the parish and its subdistricts,
the proportion borne by the deaths under 5 years to the mortality at all ages,
to the population under 5 years in 1851, and to the assumed population under 5 years
in 1857; and it also shows the proportion borne by the deaths under 1 year to the
births which have taken place, and the proportion of the latter deaths that occurred
during the first 3 months of existence.