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16
A gradual diminution in the relative amount of
mortality occurring amongst the industrial classes has
been observable for a considerable number of years, and
as such a result is one of the most trustworthy evidences
of sanitary improvement effected amongst that portion
of the community in which it is most needed, it is
satisfactory to find by the figures in the Table that the
reduction referred to was very much more considerable
during the past year, notwithstanding the prevalence of
a larger amount of epidemic disease, than in the year
preceding.
Sickness and Mortality amongst the Parochial
Poor.—The nature and amount of sickness with the
deaths from each class of disease which prevailed
amongst the parochial poor in the entire district, and in
the several sub-districts during the year, are contained
in Table V., Appendix. The figures there set forth will
be found to confirm generally the deductions derivable
from the general tables of mortality. The total cases
of sickness of the past year were 2,479, or 124 more
than in 1881, but 200 less than in 1880. The proportion
of deaths to cases treated was 4.1 per cent., or 0.5 per
cent, less than the decennial average. An approximate
estimate of the amount of sickness which has prevailed
throughout the district, in the absence of any other
available means for the purpose, may be formed by
assuming the proportion which the deaths bear to the
cases of sickness amongst the poor, as the proportion of
deaths to cases of sickness occurring amongst all classes.
By such a calculation the amount of sickness that
prevailed generally during the past year must have
equalled 42 per cent, of the population.