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70
REPORT
on the
SANITARY CONDITION OF ST. MARY, ISLINGTON,
FOR, DECEMBER, 1865.
No. CIV.
The number of deaths registered during the five weeks ending
December 30th was 375. The corrected mean mortality of the corresponding
period of the year, estimated on the nine previous Decembers,
is 419, so that we have had about 49 deaths less than is customary:
and this low mortality has been observed in respect of each class of
causes of death. A death from hydrophobia has been recorded.
The only disease of the zymotic class, the mortality from which has
been excessive—is "Fever." Most of the 18 deaths were from typhoid.
This disease, the principal local operation of which is concentrated
upon the small intestines, is more prevalent now than it has been at any
period during my tenure of office, and has found its way into houses
both of the well-to-do and of the poor. It is a disease, if not absolutely
generated from the putrefaction and fermentation of animal excretions,
and of other organic refuse matters, yet certainly one, the effectual
poison of which is received into the system with air contaminated by
the consequent emanations, or with food or water similarly defiled. I
wish this to be thoroughly understood by the public, because the
conditions which are now developing typhoid fever are the very same
which will determine outbreaks of cholera, should that disease become
epidemic in the summer. Nothing in "preventive medicine" is better
established than this connection. Typhoid fever is now giving to our
population a lesson in the laws of health, which it will be at the peril
of us all that we disregard. Cases of typhoid now and recently
existent I have traced, without a shadow of doubt, to the following
sources:—Sewer and drain emanations sucked up into houses from