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Diseases of the Nervous System were fatal in 589 cases in 1861, only 486
cases in 1860; diseases of the Organs of Circulation and Respiration were much
less fatal in 1861 than in 1860.
Delirium Tremens and Intemperance are given as the causes of 7 deaths, but
this number falls far short of what would represent the victims to excess of
alcohol; a vast number of diseases of the stomach, liver, and kidneys being due
to this cause as well as many cases of Dropsy; and many of the violent deaths
may also be traced to intemperance.
Syphilis appears as the cause of 37 deaths, but it is really much more active
than would be represented by that number, a vast number of deaths from
Premature Birth, Atrophy, Convulsions, and Skin Affections being really due to
the venereal poison. In no case does it appear more obviously that " the sins
of the fathers are visited upon the children, even to the third and fourth
generation."
Under the head of Violent Deaths we have 152 cases, of which 120 were
from accident or gross negligence, 9 homicidal, and 23 suicidal. On the
railways, 20 of these deaths occured. The collision on the North London
Railway in Kentish Town, by which so many lives were lost, took place during
1861. From scaffold accidents, 7 were killed; by conveyances on the ordinary
roads, 11 were killed; 23 were either burnt or scalded to death, of which 19
were children under 10 years of age; 14 were drowned, 6 probably by accident,
and 8 suicidally. Under the head of suffocation are included 17 deaths, of
which 13 were children under twelve months of age, who were smothered by
carlessness in bed, or else intentionally murdered, as there is reason to fear in
some of the instances. Eight committed suicide by hanging, 2 by pistols or
gun-shot, 2 by cutting instruments, and 3 by poison—prussic acid, arsenic, and
a preparation of mercury having been the several poisons used.
Under the head of accidental poisoning are 5 deaths, one of which was that
of a young woman aged 19, who died from the effects of arsenic taken into her
stomach, or in other ways into her system, whilst making artificial flowers.
She died with all the symptoms caused by arsenic, great irritation of the stomach
and bowels, with extreme nervous debility and prostration. After death,
manifest indications were obtained of the presence of arsenic in the tissues of the
body, and the ordinary signs of poisoning by that mineral were also observed.
This young person was employed at a factory in Judd Street, where from 60 to
70 persons are engaged in the manufacture of artificial flowers and leaves.
Many of those employed suffer very much in health from their exposure to the
dust of the arsenic which they inhale, and take into their system by its getting
under their nails, on their eyes, or on raw surfaces. The process which is
most injurious, and ought certainly to be prohibited, is what is called "fluffing;"
it consists in dipping the leaves into warm wax, and then powdering, from a
kind of dredging box, the green colouring matter on to the leaf. In this
process a quantity of the fine dust of the powder is diffused in the air, and
portions of it cannot fail to be drawn into the lungs during inspiration, and some
of it to come in contact with the eyes, lips, and nostrils, where it is readily
absorbed into the blood. Some of the workwomen wear over their mouths and
noses a cloth to prevent the entrance of the dust; many of them neglect this
precaution, and even where it is adopted, the measure is a very imperfect one
as a means of protection. This is said to be the second death which has been
clearly traced to the same cause within 6 or 8 months, besides the instances
where death ensues, there are a vast number of other persons, whose health is