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REPORT.
Gentlemen,
On comparing the mortality of the Whitechapel District for the
Quarter ending April 3rd, 1858, with the mortality for the corresponding quarter of
last year, it will be observed that there is an increase of 17 ; the mortality for the
former period being 686, including 77 non-residents, whose deaths took place in the
London Hospital, and for the latter, 669, including 68 non-residents who died in the
same institution. A slight addition must be made to these numbers for parishioners
dying in other charitable institutions in London. After deducting the deaths of
non-residents in both instances, the increase of the mortality for the quarter just
ended is 8, which may be accounted for by a probable increase of the population.
The increase of mortality is shown principally in the diseases of the respiratory
organs, and especially is it so, in the deaths of children under 5 years of age ; the
total deaths from Bronchitis and Pneumonia, during the last quarter, being 154, of
which 76 occurred to children under 5 years of age ; whereas, for the corresponding
quarter of last year, the deaths from these two diseases, were 109, including 67
children under 5 years of age.
The total number of deaths of young children under 5 years, for the quarter, is
289; and, on referring to the table showing the causes of death, it will be seen, that
the greatest number are caused by Convulsions, Measles, Hooping Cough, Mesenteric
Disease, Water ,on the Brain and Pneumonia.
This large mortality among young children, caused by the above-named
diseases, shows, that two powerful agents, insalubrity of the atmosphere and poverty,
are in operation in this district; the former, as manifested by the fatality of zymotic
and tubercular diseases ; and the latter, by the deaths from inflammatory affections of
the respiratory organs; the constitutions of the children of the poor, from the want of
proper clothing and fuel, and from insufficiency of food, being unable to resist the
action of cold. The exposure in the streets of infants imperfectly clad, is a fertile
source of disease and death, among all classes so exposed ; but especially so among
the poor.
There is a diminution of 9 in the total number of deaths from epidemic diseases,
(108 against 117.) In fever, formerly the great scourge in the Whitechapel District
there is a diminution of 10, (32 against 42;) while there is an increase in the deaths