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9
affected as might be supposed by the excess referred to.
The total deaths from all causes, as already stated, was in
the past year 2,659. Of these, 1,908 were registered as
being due to ordinary causes, the deaths from Tubercular
diseases, diseases of the Lungs, of the Brain and Nerves,
and of the Digestive Organs, being the most numerous.
Of Phthisis, there died 213 persons, of Old Age, 133, from
Violence, 50, and from diseases not specified, 40.
And here it should be observed that the number of
deaths registered, without the cause being defined by
medical certificate, was in the past year very large (70).
Why, under circumstances that tell so greatly against this
practice, the local Registrars throughout the country should
still be permitted to constitute themselves judges of the
cause of death in doubtful and suspicious cases, is not to
be very easily understood. That the Registration Act
needs amendment in this respect, and in respect also to
the compulsory registration of births, and of still-born
children, there cannot be two opinions amongst medical
men, or indeed amongst any class of persons who have had
opportunities of judging of the many deplorable evils known
to arise from the acknowledged deficiencies of the Act in
question.
Ages at Death, Infant Mortality, &c.—The circumstance
of the deaths of infants and young children, annually
amounting to such large numbers, has always been commented
upon in these Reports with regret, but as it is
everywhere the same, few who have considered the subject
can doubt but that the educational deficiencies of the
poorer classes (soon now, it is hoped, to be combated by
the exertions of the newly-constituted School Boards) has
hitherto had much to do with this deplorable waste of life.
The deaths during the past year of infants under one
year of age amounted to no less than 713; of children
between one and five years, to 540; and of those between
five and ten years, to 157, making a total of 1,410, which