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35
1,723, only 5 deaths were registered from the seven principal
epidemics, and in Eltham, with a population of 3,009, but
3 were recorded from the same diseases. Putney, with its
6,481 inhabitants at the last census, furnishes but 11 deaths
to the register of the past year, as the result of the seven
maladies referred to; so that in relation to population,
this sub-district can scarcely be said to hold an inferior
position in the scale of healthfulness, as far as regards
epidemic influences, to any locality within the Metropolitan
area.
The diseases included in the class "Tubercular," although
exhibiting a lower mortality by 6 than the average of the
three previous years, have, I regret to say, proved fatal in
3 more cases than in the year 1863, Phthisis alone having
contributed 14 to the 27 deaths registered under this head.
Next in the order of fatality appear to have been the
Diseases of the Brain and Nerves, to which 17 deaths are
attributed, whilst to Diseases of the Organs of Respiration
(exclusive of Phthisis), a like number of persons died.
Ten deaths took place as the result of affections having
their seat in the Digestive Organs, which is rather above
the average of the previous 7 years, whilst the mortality
from all other diseases appears to be, on the whole, under
the average of the same number of years.
Ages at Death.—The unusual number of 15 deaths
have been registered as entirely the result of "natural
decay," a third of which is made up of persons over 80
years of age (the oldest 91). It is also gratifying to report
that amongst infants and children between birth and ten
years of age, disease has proved fatal in a less number of
instances during the past year than has generally been
recorded. In all my previous annual reports (with the one
exception of 1862, when the deaths between the above
ages were only 31), the mortality has, on an average,
amounted to over 50. In the past year it only reached 39,
a circumstance affording considerable satisfaction, inasmuch
as it appears to indicate some advance of knowledge in
respect to the application of sanitary principles to the
saving of infant life.