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On reference to the table it is seen that of the total
number 78 were caused by violence; of these 63 resulted
from accident, 11 from suicide, 3 from murder, and 1
from execution. In G instances the cause of death remained
undetermined after inquest.
Uncertified deaths.—The reduction that has taken
place in the number of uncertified deaths during the past
few years was remarkably great in that of last year. In
the latter the number amounted to 48, or exactly one
half only of that of the year preceding. Distributed,
there were 18 in East Battersea, 7 in West Battersea,
0 in Clapham, in Putney 5, in Streatham 10, and 2 in
Wandsworth. This great diminution in the number of
unattested deaths is so far satisfactory; it is nevertheless
obvious that until a course of procedure is adopted by
which it will be rendered impossible for even one person
only to be buried the cause of whose death has not been
certified by medical testimony, there cannot be that
security to life which the community has a right to
expect at the hands of the legislature. (See Annual
Reports with reference to this subject, passim.)
Sickness and Mortality amongst the Parochial Poor.—
Table 5 (Appendix) exhibits the nature, amount, and
fatality of the sickness that occurred amongst the
parochial poor in the several Sub-districts during the
past year, and forms a valuable index of that which
occurred in the District generally. The total cases of
sickness numbered 2736, the average of the preceding
five years having been 2778. The proportion of deaths
to cases under treatment was 4-4 per cent., and slightly
below the average. Estimated from the proportion
which the deaths bore to the cases of sickness, the total
amount of sickness that prevailed throughout the District
formed 39 per cent, of the population, that of the year
preceding by a similar calculation having been 42 per cent.