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18
Mortality.
Since the passing of the Metropolis Local Management Act, the registered
deaths in each year have been as follows :—
Years 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860.
Deaths 286 321 344 328 429.
The past year having been one of unusual severity, it was to be expected
that the mortality would be heavy. During the year 1859 there were, as
stated in my last Annual Report, some alarming outbreaks of small-pox and
fever; so also in the year 1860 the sub-district was similarly, and, I regret
to say, somewhat more seriously visited; but it is rather remarkable, that
with the exception of very early life, that is to say, infants under one year,
children should have suffered most, whilst those advanced in life died in
comparatively small numbers from diseases incident to a low atmospheric
temperature.
The population being assumed from the recent census to have been 20,735
for the year 1860, and the deaths having amounted to 429, it follows that
the rate of mortality was 20.20 per 1000, being about 2 per 1000 less than
the rate for all London, as ascertained in 1859.
This is certainly too high a rate for such a suburb as Clapham to stand at
permanently, and although we are perhaps justified in looking at the two last
years as exceptional ones in regard to the mortality from zymotic diseases,
it is hoped the circumstance of these maladies having proved so fatal of late
will be taken as evidence of the necessity for renewed exertions to secure
to the sub-district the benefits of perfect sewerage, and the complete
abolition of the cesspool system, from which so many evils are known to
arise.
The following table, constructed, as usual, with a view to show the
causes of death, and the ages, sex, and social positions of the deceased
persons, will, I trust, further prove the necessity for the speedy adoption of
the remedy suggested.