View report page

15
134 inquests were held in the year; 106 upon those whose death
had arisen from natural causes; 19 upon cases of accidents; 8 of suicide;
and 1 of murder. 42 of these inquests were held in the House of
Correction, and 5 in the House of Detention.
The table appended to this report contains a list of the deaths
arising from all causes, arranged according to the causes which produced
them, and the ages at which they occurred.
These are the principal facts relating to the causes of death, and
upon them I will offer a few remarks.
In regard to the total mortality, it is evident that the deaths were
more numerous by 226 than in the preceding year.
The census of 1861 showed that the population of this district
was not rapidly increasing, the annual increase being 90 only ; and the
number of births being even less than that of the preceding year, tends
to confirm the view that the increase of mortality does not arise from
increase of population.
In considering the state of mortality of a single district, it is
always a matter of interest to compare it with that of the entire
metropolis, so as to be enabled to determine whether the increase is
local or general. The mortality of the entire metropolis during the
preceding year 1863 was 72,346, while that of 1864 was 77,723;
hence there was an increase of 5377 deaths; so that the year was
unhealthy throughout the metropolis.
In investigating minutely the several causes of deaths, we are
naturally led first to consider the Zymotic diseases, these being more
immediately under control than most of the others. By reference to the
table at page 14, it will be seen that the Zymotic mortality is almost
exactly the same as that of the two preceding years, so that the general
increase cannot be attributed to these diseases.
The deaths from Small Pox have fallen from 26 to 7, which
number is still too great, for undoubtedly if vaccination were properly
carried out, a death from this horrible complaint would be rare. In the
early part of the year, hand-bills were posted about the parish near
the dwellings of the poor, so that all might know when and where they
could take their children to be vaccinated gratuitously. During the
year 42 patients were sent to the Small Pox Hospital, of whom 8 died.
The deaths from Measles increased from 44 to 73, while those
from Scarlet Fever fell from 146 to 94; of the latter 8 were registered as
arising from Diphtheria.
The deaths from Hooping Cough suffered a slight increase from
66 to 71. As mortality from Measles and Hooping Cough depends
mainly upon pulmonary complications, the temperature of the year
having been below the average, would tend to favor this increase.
The mortality from Diarrhoea and Typhus has also undergone an
increase. Many of the deaths from Diarrhoea, 72 of which occurred in
children under 5, arise from want of care and attention to the feeding.
Many mothers have to work and leave their infants to be fed when they