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57
including Old Age, between 60 and 100 years, was 40,
the oldest of the deceased persons having reached the
advanced age of 96.
Disease and Mortality amongst the Working Classes
and the Union Poor.—Making a further analysis of the
table, it is satisfactory to find that a much less number
died of the above-named classes of inhabitants than in
the previous year. In the last Report the proportion of
deaths amongst these classes, to deaths of the three
classes above them collectively, was recorded as being 72
of the former to 73 of the latter. In the present table it
will be seen that 51 only of the labouring and poorer
classes succumbed in 1871 to 100 of the three classes
above them collectively. This difference in the relative
numbers in the two years is somewhat remarkable, and
would seem to indicate a much improved sanitary condition
of those localities inhabited by the poor.
Amongst the very poor in the receipt of parochial relief,
and who were attended in sickness and accident by the
Union Medical Officer, it appears that there were during
the year 318 cases treated, whilst 12/ or 3.7 per cent,
proved fatal. This percentage of deaths to cases treated
is certainly small, but the record referred to, unfortunately,
does not in any district furnish very correct data upon
which to calculate the death rate amongst this class of
persons, inasmuch as many who are in the earliest stages
of sickness, &c., returned in a Medical Officer's Relief Book,
are subsequently removed to hospitals or infirmaries, and
dying away from the parish to which they belong, the
deaths are of course recorded in the registration districts
in which such institutions are situated.
Sudden Deaths, Deaths from Violence, Inquests, &c.—
Nine inquests appear to have been held in the Sub-district
during the year. Of these, 3 resulted in verdicts of
"Natural Death, from Diseases;" 2 in open verdicts of
"Found dead without marks of violence," (newly born
infants); 2 in deaths from suicide, and 2 in accidental