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32
Appendix, shows that of 2,224 cases of sickness, accidents,
&c., treated by the Parochial Medical Officers in their official
capacity, 66 only proved fatal in the past year. This will
appear a strikingly small per centage of deaths to the
number of cases treated amongst such a class as that of the
Out-door Union Poor of this parish.
Accidental and Violent Deaths.—Inquests.—Three more
deaths from accident, violence, &c., than occurred in 1867
were made the subjects of Coroner's Inquests in the past
year.
In the past year there were 39 inquiries of the kind
referred to, and verdicts returned in accordance with the
evidence adduced.
These deaths may be classified as follows:—
Found dead, newly born, no marks of violence 6
Suicides by hanging whilst of unsound mind 5
Natural deaths from disease (sudden) 5
Accidentally drowned 4
Do. killed by falls, &c. 4
Run over in the streets and on railways 4
Burns and Scalds (accidental) 3
Found dead in the water, no marks of violence 2
Poisoning by misadventure 2
Asphyxia in bed 2
Lead poisoning (the deceased being a working plumber) 1
Excessive drinking of ardent spirits 1
Total Inquests 39
But one remark need be made on the above statistical
statement, viz., that the six discovered attempts at concealment
of birth, speaks rather badly for the morality of a
certain section of the inhabitants of this Sub-district. How
many undiscovered cases of this kind there may be every
year, it is impossible even to surmise, but it is clear
legislative interference is much needed everywhere to
remedy this widely-spread social evil.