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11
the Shoreditch contingent-numbers sufficiently similar
to allow us to reckon the deaths in St. Luke's Workhouse
without danger of material statistical error.
The same Table further shews the great mortality
of infantile life, another crucial test of unhealthy local
conditions. In 1855, out of 2998 deaths 714 died under
the age of one year, and 1389 under five years, a proportion
little short of one-half. In 1856 there was some
improvement in this respect. 1232 children under five
years died out of a total mortality of 2719.
To the Sanitary Physician these facts are eminently
suggestive. If one-fourth of the children born
die under one year old, and one-half under five years,
mostly from original diseased organisms, from want of
food, from exposure to cold, and malarious influences, it
is certain that many of those who survive that age, survive
with enfeebled health ill-fitted to wage the battle
of life, falling early victims to subsequent disease, or
after propagating new beings degenerate like themselves,
maintain a parasitical life upon the vitals of the community.
The next step in the Life-Table shews us that
before attaining the age of fifteen years fully one-half of
all the persons born had perished; that is, they had
perished before they had been able to contribute anything
by their labour towards the burden of their
maintenance. In the next stage from fifteen to forty,
including a large part of the most active period of life,
384 persons, or more than one-fourth of the survivors
from adolescence died. Another step shews that those