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Table II. shows the number of cases of sickness which came under observation in
the pauper practice of the Parish at the Holloway and the Islington Dispensaries, and
at the Pentonville Convict Prison. It gives a total of 34,692 cases. In 1866 the
total was 35,430 cases, but that was the cholera year, when the number was swollen
by cases of bowel affections.
CAUSES OF DEATH AND SICKNESS.
The causes which led to the death of 3760 persons appear upon Table I.; of these
persons, 1873 were males and 1887 females. I pointed out on a former occasion that
our female population was exceptionally large.
A favourable aspect of this Table is afforded in observing the comparatively
small number of deaths which are attributed to diseases of the so called zymotic class.
Eight hundred and thirty-eight is a number which contrasts satisfactorily with 1127
deaths from these causes in 1866,1015 in 1865, 977 in 1864, 1356 in 1863, 849 in 1862,
and 846 in 1861, especially when the smaller population in these years is considered.
Small-pox occasioned 71 deaths, 32 in the west and 39 in the east sub-district.
Of these persons thus cut off by a preventible disease, 46 were males and 25 females.
In 1866 the number of deaths registered as from small-pox was 67; in 1865, 58;
in 1864, 26; in 1863, 108 ; in 1862, 15; and in 1861, 6. Hence, since the great
outbreak in 1863, small-pox has been gradually, year by year, claiming more and
more victims amongst our residents. Is not this a fair subject for thought ? Ought it
not to render us anxious, and lead us—to whom the legislature has entrusted the
health and, to an extent, the lives of our fellow parishioners—to enquire whether we
are doing all that we might or ought to do in their protection ? For it is not that
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