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Prevalence of, and Mortality from, Zymotic Diseases.
Diseases of the Zymotic class have, upon the whole, manifested themselves
in a somewhat less virulent form during the past year than they did in the
preceding one, since the six principal maladies of this class resulted in death
in a less number of instances than during 1858, the numbers being respectively
88 and 103. Small-pox proved fatal in two cases in 1859, whereas in the
year preceding there were no deaths from this disease recorded. Scarlatina,
Malignant Sore Throat, and Diphtheria (of the latter 8 cases), grouped together
in the mortality table, resulted in 50 deaths in 1858; but in 1859 there
succumbed to the same diseases 43 persons. Of the 8 cases of death from
Diphtheria registered, not one occurred amongst the union poor. Only one
case, which I am happy to state resulted in recovery, came under treatment
in my own practice.
Of the 394 deaths registered, 105 occurred in the Union Workhouse, 23
of which were found by coroner's inquisition, viz., 13 from violence and 19
sudden, from natural causes.
Of the deaths in the workhouse, 26 occurred between the ages of 70 and
80, 17 between 80 and 90, and 3 between 90 and 100, the oldest being 96.
Mortality of Childhood—Proportion of Births to Deaths.
The mortality amongst children between birth and 10 years of age has,
I am pleased to state, rather diminished during the past year, 166 being
the number registered against 174 in 1858; still, however, the number in
1859 is very large, and indicates the persistent operation of the much to be
deplored cause alluded to in my last Annual Report.
The births during the year have been 685, 366 males and 319 females;
consequently, as the deaths number 394, there is an excess of births over
deaths of 291.
Sickness and Mortality amongst the Out-door Union Poor.
Table V. Appendix, exhibits the nature and amount of sickness amongst
the pauper population, as well as the deaths from each class of disease and
other causes. Of 800 cases of sickness which came under treatment
amongst this class, 35 terminated fatally, which is rather a larger proportion
relatively to the number of cases treated than occurred in 1858, the mortality
having then been 27 in 918 cases treated. Lung diseases, as I before observed,
were unusually prevalent amongst all classes of the population during
the past year; but amongst the union poor, of 174 cases treated, 10 only
proved fat;-' In this calculation I do not include Phthisis, to which disease
alone 29 de are attributed, but of these deaths one only occurred amongst
the families of the out-door union poor.
The per centage of deaths, in the number of cases of all diseases, accidents,
&c., treated, may be said to be small, indicating that the pauper class are
being greatly benefited by sanitary improvements, furnishing additional proof
of the value of the measures that have been, and still continue to be, carried
out by the authorities.
Table VI. Appendix, furnishes one most gratifying fact, that every means
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