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9
green papers in dwelling-rooms. The majority of these green papers contain a
quantity of arsenic, and are especially noxious in rooms where there is much
heat, or when the rooms are not very freely ventilated, but in all cases the use
of this colour should be avoided. Six persons committed suicide by hanging, 6
by cutting their throats, 6 by drowning, and 1 by a pistol shot.
There are every year a number of deaths registered without either medical
certificate or inquest. The following are illustrations: a child, 7 months' old,
from convulsions; another, 2 months old, from inflammation of the stomach;
another, 4 months old, from an unknown cause; another, 1 day old, from
collapse of lung; and another, 1 year old, from a couching fit. These are all
cases in which a careful enquiry should have been made; it is impossible to say
how far these returns are correct, and in some of them there is prima facie
ground for suspecting foul play.
WORKHOUSE.
There were 434 deaths in this building, which is 30 fewer than in 1862. Over
60 years of age there were 187 deaths, and under 5 years 78. From Small Pox
there were 16; from Measles, 8; from Diphtheria, 1; from Hooping Cough, 1 ;
from Diarrhoea, 3; from Low Fevers, 2; from Erysipelas, Pyoemia, and Puerperal
Fever, 6.
PAUPER SICKNESS.
During the vear 1863, there wore 14836 persons who came under the care of
the Parochial District Surgeons; this is 2438 more than were treated in the year
1862. The cases were distributed amongst the several districts as follows:—
North—Mr. Jefferys 2946
North-West—Mr. Claremont 2410
Central—Mr. Sutherin 3326
South-East—Dr. Davis 3209
South-West—Dr. Wildbore 2945
One-eleventh part of the whole number of deaths takes place in the
Workhouse; but it is not easy to calculate what proportion of the whole sickness
in the parish is treated by the Parish Surgeons; the cases of pauper sickness
bear the proportion to the whole population of St. Pancras of 1 to 16; and as it
is probable that to every three paupers in the parish there was one attack of
acute illness, it would appear that about one-fifth of the sickness of the parish
comes under the care of the Parish Surgeons.
METEOROLOGY.
The mean temperature of the year was 50°.3, which was 1°.9 above the
average of 92 years. The temperature of the first quarter was 42°.6, which
was 4°.2 above the mean of other years; of the second quarter it was 53°.0,
which is 0o.9 above the mean; of the third quarter it was 58°.8, which was
0°.7 lower than the average; and of the fourth quarter, 46°.8, which was 3°.2
higher than the mean. The mean daily range of temperature was 16°.9, which
is 1°.2 more than usual. The degree of humidity was 80, which is 2 lower
than the mean.
Rain fell to a depth of 20.0 inches which was 5.3 less than the mean of 47
years, and 6.4 inches less than in 1862.