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14
The death-rate in the North-East, North-West and SouthWest
Wards was lower than in 1908 and higher in the SouthEast
Ward. On Table IV. will be found the number of deaths
in each Ward from the different diseases, and it will be
observed that the excessive mortality in the South-West Ward
is due to those diseases which reflect the influence of social
conditions upon the death-rate.
There is an excessive mortality from all the common
infectious diseases, and from Digestive diseases. Diseases of
childhood would naturally be more prevalent in the Ward, but
the number of deaths from such diseases as Measles and
Diarrhoea is far greater than the age constitution of the Ward
would warrant. Out of 40 deaths from Measles, 24 occurred
in the South-West Ward; out of 22 from Diphtheria and
Membranous Croup, 20 belonged to this Ward and no less
than 36 out of 43 from diseases of the digestive organs.
The results of the house-to house inspection of certain
portions of the South-West Ward are given in a succeeding
paragraph, and an amelioration of insanitary conditions would
undoubtedly bring about a direct reduction in the excessive
mortality of the Ward. But a reduced death-rate would
reflect itself in the social conditions of the people.
It is known that the poorest classes in our large towns
suffer much more heavily from disease and loss of life than do
the better class of artizans and wealthier classes. It does not
follow that their poverty is the cause, although it may be
granted that malnutrition produces disease. These classes
may be poor through sickness. Any illness in a family adds to
the expenses. A fatal illness, by removing the head of the
household, frequently leaves the widow with a family for
whom she is unable to provide and who are deeply injured in
health and habits by the enforced absence of her care, as well
as by physical privation.
For a determination of the degrees of poverty prevailing
in a community, and of the relative influence exerted by