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siderably below the returns of the last two years (154 and 129 respectively),
and below the corrected average in 10 years. As usual, the
principal victims were young children, 94 having died under one year
old, and 9 in the second year of life. Pour persons succumbed from
this cause at ages above 60, and three between 2 and 60.
Eighteen women died of diseases connected with childbirth or 4.5 per
1000 births—not a large proportion; but probably some deaths connected
with the puerperal state were registered under other heads not
having occurred within the few first days after parturition.
Ten deaths were ascribed to Syphilis, 8 being infantile or hereditary.
The deaths from this malady are probably understated.
Malignant disease "Cancer," in its various forms, was fatal to 70
persons, of whom 61 were above 40 years of age.
The tubercular diseases destroyed 360—exclusive of eighty-five
non-parishioners in the Brompton Hospital—viz , Scrofula 12, Tabes
mesenterica 47, Phthisis 229, Hydrocephalus and Tubercular meningitis
72.
Thus far I have spoken of general diseases zymotic or constitutional.
I now come to the extensive class of local diseases. Those affecting
the nervous system were returned as the causes of death in 225 cases,
including apoplexy, 57; Paralysis, 43 ; Epilepsy, 10; Convulsions, 72 ;
and " Brain disease," not otherwise described, 30.
Diseases of the organs of circulation were returned in 132 cases,
viz., Pericarditis, 5; Aneurism, 6; and Heart disease, &c., 121.
Diseases of the respiratory organs were fatal in 403 cases, viz., 270 in
the winter quarters, and 133 in the summer quarters: 251 of the deaths
were due to bronchitis; 95 to pneumonia, and 57 to other forms of
lung disease. In former reports I have dwelt upon the influence of
temperature over the mortality from this important class of diseases.
The figures above stated plainly demonstrate the fact that the mortality
from pulmonary affections is inversely as the temperature.
Diseases of the digestive organs were accountable for 85 deaths, including
Gastritis, 4; Enteritis, 8; Peritonitis, 7; Stomach disease, 8;
and Liver disease, &c , 41.
Diseases of the Urinary organs were fatal in 53 instances, including
" Bright's disease " 25.
Two deaths from Ovarian dropsy, and 6 from Uterine disease, &c,,
were recorded.
Thirty-three children perished from premature birth, and 21 from
teething. Of 122 deaths ascribed to Atrophy and Debility, nearly all
were those of young children, 116 being in the first year of life.
Many of these deaths probably belong fairly to the tubercular class.
It is lamentable to think that not a few of them in all probability resulted
from veritable starvation, due to the use of improper farinaceous
food, which the delicate alimentary system is quite unable to digest in
the forms in which it is often presented to the children of the poor.
Old age was returned as the cause of death in 64 instances. Of violent
deaths 45 were recorded, namely, fractures and contusions, 17; burns
and scalds, 8; suffocation, 8; poisoning and drowning, respectively
one each; manslaughter, 1; accidental wound, 1; suicidal ditto, 3;
hanging, 2. " Causes of death ill-defined or not specified," 26.