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4
HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
The health of the entire district during the year 1859 declined
very considerably from the improved status which it had acquired during the
three preceding years.
The total deaths registered were 1322. This number (as is seen in Table
1 in the Appendix) is less by 14 than the average of the ten preceding years
corrected for increase of population. But such average is unduly increased
by the two cholera years 1849 and 1854. To obtain a just result, therefore,
these years should be excluded in order to make comparison with an average
derived from years of ordinary mortality.
Assuming that the population has increased since the year 1851 in the
same ratio as during the ten preceding years, it will have numbered in
1859, 59,873. Looking to the great influx into the district by immigration,
which has been and is continually taking place, this estimate is probably below
the true number, and if so, would proportionately lower the death-rate; but as
it is applied to the following calculations alike, it does not vitiate comparison,
which is the object sought. The mortality during the past year, deduced from
the foregoing estimate, and the total number of deaths registered, was at the rate
of 22 per 1000 living, and closely coincides with that for all London during
the same period.
Excluding those years in which Cholera prevailed epidemically, the average
death-rate of the past lOyears was 19per 1000; but if these years be included
it was 22.3 per 1000; so that the death-rate of 1859 was almost identical
with the average which was extraordinarily raised by two very severe epidemics,
and 3 per 1000 greater than that which may be considered as the ordinary
average.
The increase in the death-rate ot the past year arose from the occurrence of
a greater fatality from epidemic diseases. These formed upwards of 21.4 per
cent. of the whole mortality. Nearly one-half of the deaths resulting from these
causes was due to Scarlet Fever; and on this essentially depends the heightened
death-rate, and the great excess of infant mortality which is recorded in the
several tables contained in the local summaries.
The intensity ot disease, as estimated from the sickness and its resulting
deaths amongst the poor, was greater than the average bv nearly a fourth part,
or more correctly, in the proportion by figures of 40 to 32, the deaths having
formed 4 per cent. of all cases of sickness, while the average of the past three
years was 3.2 per cent. The birth-rate was 34.4 per 1000; the natural
rate of increase 12.4 per 1000.