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Nine deaths were returned from spasm of the glottis, but as these were
mostly of infants "found dead in bed," it is open to question whether an
examination made, it may be, two or three days after death, would have
disclosed any evidence of such a condition as spasm. In the absence of
other apparent cause of death, the pre-existence of spasm of the glottis
may have been inferred. It is quite possible, to say the least of it,
that some of the children may have been "overlaid"— the same remark
being applicable to cases in which death is attributed to "convulsions,"
when the deceased have in like manner been "found dead in bed."
Laryngitis was the cause of 9 deaths, Pleurisy 8, Asthma 13, and
"Lung Disease, fyc.," 43. The principal diseases, Bronchitis and Pneumonia
caused 424 and 194 deaths respectively: total 618; of which
119 (less then one-fifth) occurred in Brompton. Of these 618 deaths,
286 were of children under five, and 255 of persons above 55 years
of age. The diseases of the respiratory organs are thus seen to be most
fatal at the extremes of life. They are also most prevalent in cold,
inclement wintry weather. Of the 700 deaths last year—the quarterly
numbers being 281, 153, 61, 205— 486 took place in the first and
fourth or winter quarters, and only 214 in the second and third or
summer quarters.
Order 4. Digestive Organs.— The diseases of these organs were
the causes of 116 deaths, viz.:— 102 in the Town and 14 only in
Brompton. Twenty-nine were of children under five years, including
13 from Jaundice of the newly born. Liver Disease heads the list
with 38 deaths (six in Brompton), being followed, among others, by
Jaundice 18, Enteritis 16, and Peritonitis 12.
Order 5. Urinary Organs.— The deaths in this order were 76 (21
in Brompton), only one being of a child under five. Thirty-eight of
the deaths were due to Briglit's Disease (Nephria or Albuminuria).
Among other causes of death were Kidney disease, 17; Cystitis, 9;
Nephritis, 5; Diabetes, 6 ; and Stone, 1.
Order 6. Organs of Generation.— Deaths 11, viz.: Ovarian
Dropsy, 8 ; Uterus disease, &c., 3.
Order 7. Organs of Locomotion.— Deaths 2, from Joint disease, &c.