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radically undermined, and their lives rendered miserable. Mr. Paul, Surgeon
in Burton Crescent, informs me that he frequently sees patients suffering from
all the symptoms of slow arsenical poisoning, clearly induced by their working
with this colouring matter. The substance employed is known as Scheele's
Green, it is a compound of arsenious acid and copper, and is as poisonous as
arsenic itself. It gives a peculiar bright emerald green, very brilliant, but not
at all like the beautiful green of natural leaves. There are several other substances
which may be used to give a green colour, which are quite harmless,
and the natural green may be better imitated by some of these substances, than
by arsenious compounds. It is to be hoped that ladies when buying green
ornaments, and all persons when choosing green papers for their rooms, or
coloured confectionary for their children, will take the trouble to ascertain
whether there is arsenic or any other poison used as the colouring ingredient.
The manufacture of colours for ornamental purposes seems to call loudly for
some legislative regulation. Representations have been made to the Home
Secretary on the subject, but I am not aware that any steps are being taken by
the Government in reference to the matter.
Under the age of 5 years, 2108 deaths occurred, which is 46 per cent. of the
gross mortality; between 5 and 10 years, 168 deaths, or between 3 and 4 per
cent. of the mortality at all ages; at 10 and under 15 years, 76 deaths occurred,
less than 2 per cent. of the whole; in the following ten years, 15 and under 25,
181, nearly 4 per cent.; in the next ten years, 272, about 6 per cent.; at 35 and
under 45 years, 326, about 7 per cent.; at 45 and under 55, 327 deaths; at 55
and under 65, 397 deaths, a little more than 8 per cent. of the mortality at all
ages; at 65 and under 75, 368 deaths; at 75 and under 85, 294 deaths; at 85
and under 95, 48 deaths; at 95 years and above, 7 deaths.
WORKHOUSE.
In this building there were 472 deaths in 1861, a mortality considerably
higher than the average of 5 preceding years. There were 13 deaths from
Scarlatina, 14 from Hooping Cough, 1 from Measles, and 1 from Low Fever,
MEWS.
I have again tabulated, as in former years, the deaths that have occurred in
these places. The deaths in 1861 amounted to 61, which gives a rate of
mortality a little more than 20 in the thousand. In the Mews of the Somers
Town and Gray's Inn sub-districts, the rate of mortality was higher than
in the others; in the former it was 34 per thousand, and in Gray's Inn 23 per
thousand.
From Zymotic diseases there were 14 deaths; Diphtheria, 4; Scarlet Fever,
3; Typhus, 1; Croup, 2; Hooping Cough, 1; Diarrhoea, 1; and Rheumatic
Fever, 1. From Bronchitis and Pneumonia, 16 deaths; from the Nervous
diseases of childhood, 10 deaths; from Tubercular disease, 4 died; and from
Atrophy, or debility from birth, 5. Two committed suicide, and 3 children
died from accidental causes. Under the age of 5 years there were 43 deaths.
When I first examined the mortality in Mews, I was led to believe that the
death-rate was higher in them, than in other parts of the Parish occupied by
people of the same station in life. Having extended my observations over 6
years, and having obtained a correct census of the population, I find that the