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rom Pyoemia, 7 ; from Diarrhoea, 135; and from Cholera, 9 (seven of these
eing children). The epidemic diseases, which were more fatal in 1863 than in
1862, were Scarlatina, Measles, Hooping Cough, Diphtheria, Erysipelas,
Puerperal Fever, Pyoemia, and Diarrhoea.
Scarlatina has been of late years one of the most fatal diseases, and unfortunately
is not dependent on the want of any obvious hygienic conditions. It
is, however, in all probability, always propagated by infection, so that the
utmost care should be taken in separating the sick and the healthy, in not allowing
children recently affected with the disease to associate with other children in
schools and other public places, and in the employment of measures to disinfect
the bedding and clothes used by those who have suffered from the complaint.
The mortality from Scarlet Fever since 1855 has been annually as follows:—
in 1855, 229; 1856, 95; 1857, 99; 1858, 406; 1859, 277; 1860, 86;
1861, 201; 1862, 257; and in 1863, 380.* The average of the 9 years was 225.
The annual mortality from Scarlet Fever in St. Pancras is nearly as high as
the mortality from Cholera in the years of its epidemic prevalence; in 1832-33,
the deaths from Cholera were 230 in this Parish; in 1849, 360; and in 1854,
240. So that actually, in 1863, there were more deaths from Scarlet Fever
than there were from Cholera in the year when its mortality was at the highest
it has ever been in St. Pancras. In proportion to population, the mortality
from Scarlet Fever, in the year 1858 to 1863, has been highest in Somers Town,
next in Kentish Town, then in Camden Town, Regent's Park, Gray's Inn, and
Tottenham Court Road.
From Syphilis there were registered 32 deaths; and from Glanders, a disease
contracted by contact with a glandered horse, there was one death.
From alcoholic excesses were registered 20 deaths, 7 being from Delirium
Tremens, and 13 from Intemperance. No doubt that many more deaths should
be ascribed to this cause, which are now placed under Diseases of the Brain, of
the Liver, Kidneys, and other categories. From Cancer 103 deaths occurred;
from Scrofula and Rickets, 22; from Tubercular Diseases of the Mesenteric
Glands, 50 deaths; from Consumption, 546; and from Water on the Brain, 77
deaths occurred. This last class of diseases are very much under the control of
sanitary measures; want of pure air is the most prolific source of all the
Tubercular Diseases.
From Convulsions of Infancy and Teething there were 150 deaths. From
Childbirth, besides the cases of Puerperal Fever, there were 19 deaths.
The Deaths from Violence numbered 172, 134 being from accident or
negligence, 31 suicidal, and 12 homicidal.
Of the Accidental Deaths, 6 were on railways; 17 on the roads by means of
horses or vehicles drawn by horses; there were 28 deaths by burns and scalds,
15 from the clothes catching fire, 7 from scalds, and 2 from houses on fire;
there were 28 deaths from suffocation, nearly all young children, who were
stifled in the bed clothes from negligence or ignorance.
There were 2 deaths by accidental poisoning, and 6 by suicide. Cyanide of
potassium, a substance now much used in photography, was twice used, oxalic
acid once, essential oil of almonds once, prussie acid once. Arsenic was not
used for this purpose, owing probably to the laws regulating its sale. Several
cases have been reported to me of injury to health from the employment of
* This is about one death out of every 539 persons living—a little less than two in the thousand.