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disproportionately more numerous in the Town sub-district. In
Table 3 (Appendix) the deaths of non-parishioners at the Brompton
Consumption Hospital. 101 in number, are excluded. Some
particulars with respect to these deaths, however, are given at page 45.
It may be observed that many of the deaths of young children ascribed
to such causes as premature birth, atrophy and debility, convidsions,
&c., are probably due primarily to the scrofulous taint, whether inherited
or simply induced by want of care, or of suitable food, light, air, &c.
Seventy-eight of the deaths in this order occurred in the first year of
life, 58 in the second, and 33 between two and five, making a total of 169
deaths of children under five years. The deaths in later life occurred as
follows:—Between 5 and 15 years, 37; 15 and 25, 53; 25 and 35, 76;
35 and 45, 74; 45 and 55, 64; 55 and 65, 23; 65 and upwards, 8.
The deaths from tubercular diseases in 1877 were less than in 1876 by
nearly 100; but the deaths from the same diseases last year exceeded
the number in 1876 by about 30, and those in 1877 by 130.
The quarterly numbers of deaths were 127, 134, 125, 118, or 245 in the
cold or winter quarters, and 259 in the warm or summer quarters.
Class 3.—LOCAL DISEASES.
This great class of diseases accounts for more than 40 per cent. of the
registered deaths. It is sub-divided into eight Orders, agreeing with
the systems or organs of the body affected, all of which will be noticed
in turn. The deaths from the diseases in this class, 1,343 in all, were
as usual relatively fewer in Brompton sub-district (238) than in the
Town sub-district (1,105). More than a third of the deaths (459) were
of children under five years.
Order 1. Nervous System.—The diseases of the nervous system
caused 315 deaths, viz., 261 in the Town sub-district, and 54 in
Brompton; 103 were of children under five. The fatal diseases as
registered were:—Cephalitis (inflammation of the brain) 4, Apoplexy
86 (of which 17 in Brompton), Paralysis 41 (13 in Brompton),
Insanity 2, Epilepsy 16 (7 in Brompton), Brain disease
75 (of which only 9 in Brompton), and Convulsions—a symptom in
many infantile diseases rather than a disease in itself—91, and only 7
of them in Brompton. Of the 91 deaths from convulsions, 89 were of
children under five; 69 having occurred in the first, and 16 in the
second year of age.
Apoplexy and Paralysis—diseases of the later periods of life—were
the causes of nine deaths under 35 years of age; of two between 35