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diseases, from the severity of the season. The Autumn quarter is usually more
unhealthy than the Summer and Spring quarters. The average mortality of
the fourth or Autumn quarter, during the past ten years in St. Pancras, has been
967, which, when raised for increase of population, gives 1,064, considerably
more than the actual mortality of the recent quarter.
The number of cases of sickness, under the care of the Parochial
District Medical Officers, has been, for the three quarters severally, 2,058,
2,332, and 2,001; the numbers of epidemic diseases have been 364, 808, and
316. The total numbers of cases in the first and third quarters have not varied
very much; in the Summer quarter there was an excess of 300 over the other
quarters, chiefly from diarrhæa and English cholera. The large increase, during
the same quarter, of epidemic disease, of which there was more than in the two
other quarters combined, was dependent on the same causes. During the last
quarter the number of cases of bronchitis, pleurisy, and pneumonia, has increased
from 65, in the preceding quarter, to 210.
WORKHOUSE.
There have been 34 deaths in this establishment during the month.
Of these, 5 were under the age of 3 years, and 7 over the age of 70. Six persons
have died from natural decay, one at the age of 85. One child, previously very
unhealthy, has died of measles, of which disease there has been a considerable
number of cases. There have been 12 deaths from chest afflictions, and 5 from
cerebral diseases. There have been 2 deaths from puerperal fever, and several
persons are now suffering from it. This disease is of a most infectious character;
and when once it has gained access to a lying-in ward, it clings to it with
remarkable tenacity for some time, in spite of all disinfectants. As soon as the
disease made its appearance, Mr. Coster, the Senior Surgeon, with the utmost
promptitude, used all precautionary measures to prevent its extension: such as
the complete isolation of the patients suffering from it; preventing the nurses,
who attend on them, from coming near other parturient women; the entire
change of linen and beds; and placing all persons, about to be confined, in a
distant part of the building.
The disease, however, is not yet eradicated. It is the intention of the
Directors not to allow any nurse, who has been near the patients with puerperal
fever, to attend lying-in women for three weeks. The Resident Surgeons will
not attend any other accouchements for the same period; and all fresh cases of
labour will, if possible, be kept at their own houses, or sent to Lying-in
Hospitals.