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none but the weakly thus succumb ? Is this mode of argument, which it is reported
leads the savage to the destruction of his offspring, worthy of our boasted civilization?
16. By referring to Table II. and casting the eye down the columns of totals for the
whole parish, the relative frequency in the operation of each disease causing death
under 5 years of age, under 1 year, and under 3 months, is readily ascertained. By
comparing the items of these columns horizontally, it become apparent how large ft
proportion of the deaths of children took place within the first year of life, and again
how many of the latter in the first three months. A similar comparison may be made
for the Sub-districts, and for the sexes. I shall content myself by soliciting your
study of this table. You will observe that the following diseases are returned as the
occasion of the greater number of the deaths.
Diseases of the organs of respiration
of an acute character 210
Diarrhœa 120
Hooping-cough 90
Measles 75
Atrophy 72
Convulsions 69
Hydrocephalus 67
Debility from premature birth 45
Teething45
Violent deaths 44
Tabes mesenterica 40
Scarlatina 32
How many of these children might have been preserved to an useful life, if poverty
had not engendered apathy and ignorance neglect ? How much infant mortality
throughout the country might in future be avoided, were the poor man's dwelling pervaded
by a sweeter atmosphere ? how much were the daughters of the poor not merely
instructed in our schools but educated,—educated to refuse the evil and choose the
good; educated to the homely work of that station of life to which each future wife
and mother is destined ? how much, if the State were to withdraw its patronage from
the nostrum-monger, and to discountenance the sale of infant poisons? If ever this
opprobium of our civilization is to be wiped off, the clergyman, the district visitor, and
the schoolmistress, must join in the efforts of the professional sanitarian.
17. Tables V. and VI. show where during the year the infant mortality has been
most remarkable. You cannot fail to notice, in how many instances the locality of
high infant mortality has corresponded with that of high mortality from zymotic
diseases.
SICKNESS.
18. Notwithstanding the very high value which must be attached to the death-rate
of a district, and to the returns of mortality within it from various diseases, it must
be confessed that it fails to represent fully its sanitary condition. It shows accurately
enough the number of cases of disease which terminate in one particular way, but it
fails to tell of all those which terminate in recovery, or in imperfect restoration to
health. And yet, these constitute by far the largest proportion of those attacks of
disease, which either run their course untended, or are submitted to the control and
guidance of medical art. In the present day, and in our metropolis, with all the
provision that is made for the medical relief of the poor, as but few persons die
who have not been previously seen by some medical practitioner, so probably but few
of the really sick, I mean of those who are so ill as to be debarred from following
their occupations, or whose lives are seriously embittered by bodily suffering, have not
the advantage of medical advice. If then, it were possible to collect the experience
of the profession from time to time, we should be in possession of a mass of facts from
which we might positively declare how many persons were sick, from what complaints,
and with what result. As, however, a variety of considerations debar us from
obtaining at present this valuable and desirable information, we are driven to the
adoption of some expedient, which may furnish at least an indication by which our
estimate derived from the mortality may be corrected and rendered more available to
our purpose. If the whole of the sickness of the district cannot be ascertained