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37
Tubercular Diseases.
The total deaths were 167, viz., Phthisis, 121; Tubercular Meningitis,
24; Tabes Mesenterica, 12, and Scrofula, 10.
As a proof that diseases of this important order are greatly influenced
by hereditary and insanitary conditions, the deaths caused
by them during the year, in the sub-district of St. George, Bloomsbury
(which is surrounded by handsome squares, and is the wealthiest
and best constructed locality in the district), were only 32, whilst the
deaths from the same order of diseases in the sub-district of South St.
Giles (which includes the squalid courts and alleys surrounding Great
Wild Street and Drury Lane, where light, dry air, warm clothing,
good food, and sobriety are conspicuous by their absence), were 91.
Zymotic Diseases,
The total deaths were 187.
The year was characterised in the district by the prevalence of
Small-pox, Measles, Scarlet Fever, Diarrhoea, and Typhoid Fever.
Small-pox.—This disease re-appeared in the metropolis as an
epidemic at the beginning of 1876, and first showed itself in St.
Giles' District, in May of that year; it then disappeared from our
midst until October, but from that date to the 31st of December, 18
cases occurred, of which 4 were fatal.
During the whole of 1877 small-pox affected this district with
variable severity, it was nowhere endemic but appeared at different
periods, scattered over the entire district—nearly 100 cases were reported
on, and on removal into hospital, the rooms, bedding, clothing, &c.,
were thoroughly disinfected for the purpose of arresting the spread of
the disease.
The Guardians issued hand-bills urging re-vaccination on persons
above 15 years of age, but this was feebly responded to, except by the
persons inhabiting houses infected by the disease.
During the year 12 deaths were reported, of these only 2 (1 adult
and 1 child) died in the district, the remaining 10 parishioners died
at the Hampstead, Stockwell, and Highgate small-pox hospitals.
From the Registrar General's return, it shows that "during the
year 6728 cases of small-pox were admitted to the Metropolitan
"Asylum Hospitals; 7242 completed cases were recorded, of which
"1284 were deaths, and 5958 recoveries. The proportional mortality
"among the 7242 completed cases in the year was equal to 17'7 per
"cent.; in the first quarter of the year the mortality was equal to 19"7
"per cent., in the second quarter 164, in the third quarter 109, and
in the last quarter it increased to 29'6 per cent.
Of the total deaths in London from small-pox during this year in a
population of 3,533,484, were 2544, or 1 in 1388.
Of these 569 occurred among those persons who had been vaccinated;
1080 deaths were those who had not been vaccinated, and of
the remainder, 895, no information was obtained as to vaccination.
The following return kindly supplied to me by Mr. Yardley, the officer
appointed by the Guardians, will give the necessary information relative
to vaccination in the district.