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71
Of these deaths 4 were found by the Coroner's juries to
have been "accidental," from drowning and being run over
in the streets, &c. Two inquiries were also held on persons
"found dead," but no decision whatever appears to have
been arrived at as to the actual cause of death in either
instance, One inquest was held on a person who was shown
to have died from excessive drinking, and on another whose
death was returned as being "natural, from a fit." It is
submitted that a "fit" is one of the vaguest imaginable
terms, even as a definition of a purely conjectural cause,
since there may be a hundred unnatural ways of inducing
convulsions or fits, whilst the actual causes of deaths, without
properly conducted post mortem examinations, may,
and frequently do, remain quite as great mysteries after
inquests have been held, as before such inquiries had been
determined upon. (See observations of the Medical
Officers of Health in the introductory remarks of this and
other Annual Reports.)
Uncertified deaths, or deaths placed on the Register without
their causes being first attested by medical certificates,
were never very numerous in this Sub-district, and it is
satisfactory to find that during the past year but one such
occurrence has been noted. It is far from being contended
that there was any suspicion of wrong in the case referred
to, but it may be remarked the entire medical profession
are agreed that a law which permits the registration of
deaths by local registrars, upon mere conjectures as to their
causes, is a bad law, and one greatly needing amendment.
Sanitation.—A. summary of the sanitary proceedings in the
past year, as carried out in this Sub-district, will, as usual, be
found in Table VI., Appendix. Apart from what has been
set forth in this table, it should be stated that all cow-houses,
as well as all premises used for the slaughtering of cattle,
&c., within the parish, have been carefully supervised
throughout the year, and at the usual period for granting