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family responsibilities, whilst intent upon making the very most of their
labour away from their offspring.
It is a little singular, however, but no less gratifying, to find that the preponderance
of deaths of children under the age of 10 years has been, during
the past year, most decidedly on the side of the classes more or less removed
from pauperism, the proportion being as great as 43 to 22, that is to say, of
65 deaths that took place amongst all classes of children at the ages above
stated, 22 only occurred in the families of the union poor. Formerly, and
before drainage and other sanitary improvements were introduced into and
about the dwelling-places of the poor, the preponderance was as clearly on
the side of the pauper. From this fact we may very reasonably conclude
that the indigent as a class are being extensively benefited by the Act under
which the improvements referred to have been carried out, and that more care
than formerly is being bestowed by those who are mothers amongst the
very poor, upon their offspring at the earlier periods of life.
Birth-rate of the Sub-district.
If we lose, in common with every other sub-district, a large number of
children by deaths from disease and other causes, their places are quickly
supplied, for during the past year the births of 189 (97 males and 92 females)
were registered in the parish, giving an excess of births over deaths of 80,
which is 15 more than the excess of the preceding year. The excess of
births over the deaths of infants under 5 years is as great as 133.
Sickness and Mortality amongst the Union Poor.
Table V. Appendix, possesses some considerable interest as affording the
means of judging of the general character of the prevailing diseases in the
several parishes in the district, and indeed is the only reliable basis upon
which such judgment can be formed, since unfortunately the cases of sickness
occurring in private practice, unless they result in death, find no record.
During the past year the cases of sickness amongst the union poor residing
in this parish were rather more numerous than in 1858, but the proportion
of deaths to the number of cases treated is small, viz., 29 to 675, or a fraction
over 4 per cent. It is also gratifying to report that nearly one-fourth of the
diseases resulting in death amongst this class in 1859, were of a chronic
character, and not what are usually termed " preventible", and that they occurred
to adults, three of whom were at the time of death bordering on 80,
aid one above that age. Another most gratifying and note-worthy fact is,
that of the total of 119 deaths registered in the sub-district, only 29 took
piace in the families of the out-door Union poor.
Prevalence and Fatality of Epidemic Diseases.
Since one of the most important duties of a Medical Officer of Health is
(as defined by the Act of Parliament) " to point out the most efficacious
modes of checking or preventing the spread of contagious or epidemic diseases,
and the local causes which are likely to originate and maintain such
diseases," but little apology is necessary for here introducing the following