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One alleged centenarian died at the parish Infirmary, a woman.
Only one other person died above 95 years of age.
In a supplementary Table (3a,) I have shown the quarterly number
of deaths at all ages and in each Sub-district, with the view
of illustrating the influence of season as a cause of disease and
death. Thus it will be seen that nearly all the deaths from Diarrhoea
occur in the hot summer months, while the fatality of Chest
diseases is greatest in cold weather.
DEATHS "NOT CERTIFIED."
Twenty-one deaths were "not certified," i. e. the "medical"
attendants were unqualified persons, whose certificates, nevertheless,
were accepted as evidence of the cause of death. With
reference to this subject I may mention that the Bill for Com-
ulsory Registration of Births, &c., has been introduced into
the House of Commons again this Session, and it is proposed
to make it compulsory upon Medical men to give certificates of
the cause of death of all persons whom they may attend in their
last illness. It is to be hoped that none but qualified practitioners
will be permitted to use the official certificate form: and, I am
of opinion that the use of it by any other person, whether holding
a foreign diploma, or otherwise incapable of registration, should
be an offence under the Medical Registration Act, (Sect. 40).
Such "medical" certificates are "invalid" and should be made
"illegal" also by an amendment of the 37th Section of the same
Act.
Five persons died without having any medical attendance
whatever,—this number is irrespective of cases enquired into in
the Coroner's Court.
CAUSES OF DEATH.
In dealing with the special causes of death, the diseases of the
zymotic class first call for notice because of their importance and
their more or less preventable character. A large number of
diseases is included in this class besides the seven to which
attention is more particularly called in the weekly and other