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of Ballspond furnished by far the greatest number of deaths from these* causes,
viz., 13.1 per 1000 of the population, while there was not one in Duncan District.
Palmer District was also remarkably exempt, being for this year on a level with
some of the best districts in the Parish; the only Zymotic death that occurred was
one from diphtheria.
Small Pox occasioned 13 deaths, noarly all of which occurred at the close of the
year, when a new epidemic arose. As respects this outbreak I shall merely state
here that among the class of persons who are recipients of medical charity, whether
at the hands of the Parochial Surgeons or from the Dispensaries, there occurred 80
cases. Of these only five were observed during the first half of the year; in July
there were 2 cases, in August 2 cases, in September 3 cases, in October 4 cases, in
November 9 cases, while in December the number rose to 55. I shall defer entering
fully into the particulars until the time arrives for placing on record the history of
the entire epidemic. I may merely state here that it broke out with some severity
and almost simultaneously in the Districts of Highgate Hill and Archway, and
among the poor population of the districts adjoining the Caledonian Road viz.,
Lower Holloway, Bemerton and Canal, and that at the close of the year several
cases had occurred at Balls Pond and isolated cases elsewhere in the Parish. So
long as the arrangements for public vaccination remain as they are at present, and
so long as the state of the law continues unamended, no inducements being offered
to the poor to bring their children for vaccination of a character that they can understand
and appreciate, and no penalties for neglect of so simple a precaution being
enforced, just so long may we expect from time to time to see this offensive malady
break out and spread among our people, seizing upon those who are unvaccinated or
have been only imperfectly protected in infancy. Of the 13 deaths, 3 occurred on
Highgate Hill, 3 in Archway, 4 in Bemerton, 1 in Canal, and 1 in Lower Holloway
District.
Measles occasioned 123 deaths. The greatest proportional mortality fell upon
the Districts of Balls Pond, the Irish Courts, Queen's Road, White Conduit, Bello
Isle, Lower Holloway, Battle Bridge, Kingsland and City Road. The only
districts in which there were no deaths from measles at all were Palmer, Hornsey
Rise, Highbury Hill, Highbury Yale, Rotherfield and Duncan. It prevailed
chiefly during the months of June, July, November and December, being most
fatal in the two last mentioned months. Altogether I have the record of 740 cases
against 289 in 1861. It was, then, the leading zymotic malady of the year amongst
children.
Scarlet Fever.—210 deaths occurred from this disease. Considered in relation to
population, the Freehold adjoining the Hornsey Road suffered the highest
mortality, and next in order came the Districts of Bemerton, Mildmay, St.
Thomas, Battle Bridge, Belle Isle, Barnsbury, Lower Road, Hornsey Road and
Canal. It was most prevalent, as well as most fatal, at the commencement and
towards the close of the year. I have a record altogether of 321 cases, a larger
number than in 1861. This disease is a more fatal one than measles, and licnce the
Jarger proportion of deaths for the cases in Table Y,