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oldest persons who died in Wandsworth, Streatham, and
Putney, were respectively 97, 94 and 91, at the time of
their decease. The deaths of those from 20 to 40 and
from 60 to 80, were above the number of the previous
year by 44 and 94 respectively, but those who died
between 40 and 60 numbered 394, the same as was noted
in the last Report.
Social Positions.— The four columns in Table I.,
Appendix, devoted to the record of mortality amongst the
different classes, that which relates to the poor and the
working and industrial classes, gives a number of deaths
in the past year in excess of that noted in the table of the
last Report by as many as 87, and furnishes to the register
nearly 1,000 more deaths than do the three classes above
them collectively. Of the very poor, or those mainly
supported by the rates, the fatal cases were 207 (see
(Table Y., Appendix), constituting five per cent of the
cases treated by the Union Medical Officers. This per
centage, it should be observed, is exactly the same as that
given in the table of the previous year, and must be looked
upon as a very small one, seeing how greatly the poor are
exposed to such influences as tend to shorten life, and to
render many of the diseases to which they are liable
oftentimes singularly difficult of treatment, and especially
so at the period of approaching convalescence.
Accidental, Sudden, and other Deaths necessitating
Coroners' Inquests.—Unattested Deaths, &c.—The inquests
held in the District during 1873, were as many as 118.
There were 10 inquiries, the verdicts in which cases were
those of "found dead." "Natural death from disease" was
the return in 31 cases, "Suicide" in 7, "Manslaughter"
in 1, and "Wilful Murder" in 1; the remainder of the
inquests were held on the remains of persons accidentally
killed in various ways. (See Local Reports).
As many as 70 persons died in the District, and
were, it appears, buried, without the causes of death being