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Of the 364~registered deaths, 221 were of persons under 20 years of age ; and
of these, 91 were infants under 1 year, 44 werejbetween 1 and 2 years of age,
and 27 between 2 and 3 years. The principal maladies from which the excess
of mortality issued were, acute and chronic pulmonary affections, and those
diseases of the zymotic class in the course of which the organs of respiration
*
are especially liable to be involved. The deaths from diseases of the lungs,
exclusive of consumption were 104 against 63 in 1856, and 55 in 1857.
There were 16 deaths from measles, and 28 from hooping cough. It is, however,
satisfactory to observe, that the progress of scarlet fever in the parish
experienced a decided check from the cold. Prior to the last week in November,
the deaths from scarlet fever had ranged between 8 and 9 weekly ;
but the succeeding week they fell to 3, and have not exceeded that number
since. There have been registered 7 deaths from epidemic sore throat.
Twelve hundred and eighty-five new patients sought medical advice at the
hands of the Parochial Surgeons, the weekly numbers being 331, 295, 275,
215, and 169; of these, 434, or about a third, were labouring under acute
pulmonary affections. In the last week of November, there were 141 entries
of this kind. During December, the prevalence of pulmonary ailments became
gradually reduced, the number of cases admitted each week being 118, 114,
96, 59, and 47. Measles, hooping cough, and local rheumatic affections, were
all more prevalent towards the commencement than towards the close of the
month.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health
42, Myddelton Square,
January 7 th, 1859.