Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
This page requires JavaScript
31
Other diseases.— From diseases of the Respiratory
Organs the large number of 258 persons died. Of these
169 were under 5 years of age, clearly indicating the
chief cause of mortality in the young.
From diseases of Tubercular origin, Consumption,
Hydrocephalus, and Atrophy, 192 deaths were registered.
Of these 110 were under 5 years of age.
From diseases of the Brain and Nerves 112 deaths
were recorded, 69 being under the age of 5 years.
From diseases of the Heart 47 deaths occurred, and
if to the deaths from Tubercular and Brain Diseases
these be added, together with 63 deaths from Premature
Birth and Low Vitality, a total of 414 deaths of constitutional
origin will be grouped together equal to
nearly 43 per cent, of the total mortality.
There is a gratifying diminution in the number of
deaths from diseases of the Digestive Organs from year to
year. In this class would be included affections of the
Liver and Stomach, the result of intemperance, and
there can be no doubt that the largely diminished
mortality from this cause is due to the numerous reforming
agencies directed towards the inculcation of
habits of temperance.
Deaths not certified.—In 67 instances the cause of
death was not certified by a legally registered medical
practitioner. These numbers contrast favourably with
1881, when 173 such cases occurred. The Coroner held
inquests in 47 of these cases, leaving but 20, in 11 of
which latter he decided that no inquest was necessary.
Three of the remaining cases were those of children who
died soon after birth, a midwife being in attendance, and in
two cases, both of infants, one a case of Scarlatina, the
other of Bronchitis, the deaths were registered by direction
of the Registrar-General—a perfectly novel proceeding.