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5
given in Table 1, in the Appendix to this Report. In the
same period, 23 persons died in the Consumption Hospital;
42 in Bethnal House Asylum; and 251 in our Workhouse.
Hence, out of every 6 deaths, 1 occurred in our Public Institutions,
while in all London, the proportion was about 1 in 5.
According to population, our proportion of deaths in such
Institutions would be 396, leaving a surplus of 80 to be
distributed elsewhere. Conjointly, in the 6 Poor Law Divisions,
there was 1 death to every 14 cases of sickness. Our
total mortality was below that of London, being 19 per 1,000,
or 1 death to every 52 living, while the London mortality
was 22 per 1000, or 1 death to each 46. Our epidemic rate
however was 1.3 per cent in excess, the London per centage
forming 18.9 only. That excess apportions us more than
our share of the diseases which rank in the preventible class.
But if they be estimated, as Dr. Barnes estimates them, on
our fractional proportions of the epidemics and population of
London, the former would be represented by 385/10736, or 1/28; —the
latter by 100,000/2,616,248, or 1/26, and would turn the scale in our favour.
Inother words, instead of 385, our epidemics would number 410.
Viewed either way, and contrasted with the healthier standards
of Northumberland, Surrey and Sussex, our loss on
those diseases is fearfully large. And as they are criteria of
sanitary wants and defects, so, upon their amount will our
labours and remedies especially tell. Should I have the
honour to hold office next year, I shall be enabled—through
the kindness and liberality of the Registrar-General, to furnish
the Sub-district mortality, the death-rate of each
Sub-division, and the Sex, Age, &c. of every death. To show
the influence that weather has upon life, I have arranged, in
Table 2, the atmospheric phenomena and deaths of each
month after the plan of my monthly Reports.
Sickness.
The weather of 1856 was dry, the temperature, with