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10
Excluding diseases of the Brain and Nervous System from
a consideration of the causation of mortality proper to this
parish, in consequence of this class of diseases being unduly
augmented by the mortality of the Surrey County Lunatic
Asylum, the Tubercular class (which includes Scrofula and
Consumption), caused the largest number of deaths, namely,
19 per cent. of the whole. Diseases of the organs of respiration
(exclusive of Consumption), formed 16½ per cent.
The zymotic class, which generally exceeds the two preceding
classes, formed 15 per cent. Diseases of the digestive
organs formed 5 per cent. The most fatal single disease
was, as usual, Consumption, which caused 10 per cent. of
all deaths, an amount which, although actually great, is
relatively small in comparison with that of most of the other
Metropolitan districts. Upwards of 20 per cent. of all deaths
took place under 1 year of age, 33 per cent. under 5 years,
and 41 per cent. under 20 years of age; 77 per cent. of all
deaths, and nearly two thirds of the deaths from epidemic
diseases occurred amongst the labouring and industrial
classes.
Twenty-nine inquests were held during the year. Ten
deaths resulted from violence, 9 of which were accidental
and 1 suicidal. Fifteen deaths were recorded of which
the cause was not certified by any qualified Medical
Practitioner; under such circumstances, which the law at
present permits, society is not sufficiently secured against
the possibility of any one of these deaths having been due
to other than natural causes.
epidemic diseases—prevalence and fatality of.
The following Table exhibits the deaths which resulted
from the principal epidemic diseases during the past and
eight preceding years, and the relation which they bore to
the deaths from all causes.