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65
Social Position.—About one eighth of the total deaths
occurred amongst the nobility and gentry, a seventh from
the ranks of professional men, merchants, &c., a fifth from
the middle and trading class, and exactly one half from
the industrial and labouring class. It is of importance
to observe how few cases of Zymotic disease occurred
among the first-mentioned class, while Old Age claims more
than the average of deaths from that class, as also, diseases
of the Digestive Organs, and of the Brain. Diseases of
Tubercular origin, and of the Respiratory Organs, show a
decided partiality for the lower ranks.
Inquests, &c.,—Eleven inquests were held during the
year. The verdicts may be thus grouped-
I. Accident—(1) Spasm of Glottis, (2) Asphyxia,
(3) and (4) Falls, (5) Drowning.
II. Natural—(1) Heart Disease, (2) Old Age.
(3) Painter's Colic.
III. Suicide—(1) Shooting, (2) Poisoning.
IV. Murder—(1) Poisoned by antimony.
The last mentioned is too well known as "The Bravo
Case " to need further remark. Two cases of death were
registered as uncertified by any medical man. As one of
these was described as " unknown," it seems strange that
no inquest was held upon the case, and, whatever may be
said of accepting the guesses of friends or the dictum of
an unqualified man in registering the cause of death, surely
a registration such as the above tends to stultify all vital
statistics, and makes the protection the register ought to
afford little short of a sham.
Sanitary Work of the Year.—It is hardly necessary to
do more than refer the reader to Table VI. in the
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