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age is the only natural cause of death. All premature deaths, from whatever causes, are
calamities to be deplored. Accidents from various kinds of mechanical violence proved
fatal to 89. Burns and scalds were fatal to 33, of which number, 23 were in consequence
of the clothes of the parties catching fire. There were 5 deaths occasioned bypoison,
one of which was accidental, from an over-dose of laudanum, taken to procure
rest.
The total number of deaths in the "Workhouse, was 269, which is 3 less than
what occurred in the previous year. The deaths from fever in the Workhouse, were
34; and from diarrhoea, 18; which numbers approximate closely to those of 1857,
when the deaths from the former disease were 36, and from the latter, 14. During
the last quarter, the mortality from fever was 10, and from diarrhoea, 3.
It must not be inferred, because so many cases of death, from fever and from
diarrhoea, occurred in the Workhouse, that the establishment is unhealthy; for, upon
enquiry, I learn that all the deaths from fever, which happened in the workhouse, were
brought into it from various parts of the district; and that some of the cases were, when
admitted, in the very last stage of the disease.
The births during the year 1858, were 2742; and the deaths, deducting the
non-residents, (amounting to 216,) were 2228; the excess of births over deaths, therefore,
was 514, while, for the previous year, embracing a period of 53 weeks, the excess
of births over deaths was 817, the births being 2868, and the deaths, after deducting
those of the non-residents, 2051.
It appears, from the returns of the Medical Officers of the Union, that 11,718
cases of sickness, excluding those in the Workhouse, have been attended by them
during the year. This is about one in seven of the whole population. When we consider
that within this district there are two Dispensaries, and the London Hospital, the
number of sick poor is enormous. The out-door cases of sickness for 1857, were
10,714; and the fever cases, during that period, were 1441, or about one in seven of
the total number. The cases of fever, during the last year, were only 600, or about
one in nineteen of the total number of the cases of sickness. While, therefore, there
is an increase of about 1000 in the cases of sickness, there is a diminution of 841 cases
of fever. The total number of cases of sickness in the Workhouse, was 1,413, including
153 cases of fever.
In my last Annual Report, I laid before the Board a table, showing the number
of cases of fever attended by the Medical Officers of the Union, and the deaths from
zymotic diseases which occurred in each locality in the district. As such a table is
likely to be useful, I have subjoined a similar one to this report. On comparing the
table for the last year with that for the preceding year, it will be seen that several of
the localities present the same features of unhealthiness; and it will be found that in
the most unhealthy places, the greatest sanitary defects still exist. For instance, Prince'sstreet,
which separates Mile End New Town from Whitechapel, presents nearly the
same appearance of unhealthiness as in the previous year, notwithstanding the labour
which your Inspector has bestowed upon it, in visiting each house, and seeing that it