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of last year, the number was 265, or 49 per cent. The number of deaths ascribed to old age is
32, or 65 per cent. The deaths of several under 70 years of age might, with more correctness,
have been classed under a specified disease; while others, which occurred at more advanced
periods, should have been registered as "Natural Decay," or "Old Age."
The most fatal class of diseases during the quarter was the tubercular. In this class
there were 98 deaths, of which 68 were due to consumption. Bronchitis, pneumonia, and other
diseases of the respiratory organs, proved fatal to 62. Bronchitis and pneumonia are two
distinct forms of inflammation of the lungs, but the diagnosis is not always accurately made,
and they are consequently indiscriminately registered. Bronchitis more generally attacks old
people, and pneumonia the young. The greater number of the deaths, therefore, under 5 years
of age, which are registered as bronchitis, ought to be registered as pneumonia. A considerable
reduction is observed in the mortality from epidemic diseases, 65 deaths only being recorded for
this quarter, while for the corresponding quarter of last year, the number was 106. Although
the mortality from the epidemic class of diseases has decreased, I am sorry to say that smallpox,
so far from its showing any tendency to diminish, has even proved more fatal than in the
previous quarter of this year, when the disease began to prevail as an epidemic. The
deaths from small-pox are 13, exclusive of the 4 deaths, which occurred in the Small-pox
Hospital, of persons resident in this district. From the statistical returns of small-pox, among
cases taken generally, the old and the young, the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, it appears
that this disease proves fatal in the proportion of about 1 in 8. A more correct notion of the
prevalence of the disease will therefore be formed by multiplying the number of the deaths by 8,
when it will appear that no less than ] 36 cases have occurred in this district, of which, the
medical officers of the union attended 96. In 28 instances, the children had been vaccinated;
in 25 vaccination had not been performed; and in the other instances there is no record.
Thirteen cases of small-pox were removed to the Small-pox Hospital at the expense of the
Union, among which, 3 died, 6 recovered, and 4 are now in the hospital. Five other cases of
this disease were admitted into the Small-pox Hospital, from this district, at the expense of the
respective parties or their friends; of which number 1 died, and 4 recovered.
The number of inquests was 44; of these, 27 were holden at the London Hospital,
to which institution accidents from all parts of the East of London are conveyed. Out of the
total number of inquests in this district, during the quarter, 22 were holden on persons whose
death was occasioned by mechanical injuries; in one of these cases, death was the result of
injuries received from the falling of "sugar bags" out of a sling. The frequent occurrence of fatal
accidents from goods falling from slings, ought to induce all persons having the charge of such
machinery, to observe greater care in its application. As some of these cases arise from negligence,
the strictest investigation should at all times be made, to ascertain whether or not blame
is attributable to any person. In 5 instances, death was caused by burus and scalds. A female
child, aged 5½ years, died from " drinking oil of vitriol,"
The cause of death in all these cases was, perhaps, obvious, and needs no comment.
But, upon some of the other cases in which inquests occurred, I may, perhaps, be permitted to
make a few observations. Inquests were holden on 4 cases in which death was supposed to
have been caused by drowning. In two of these instances, the verdict was, " Found dead in the
river without marks" In another, "from suffocation and drowning, how came into the water not
proved." In another instance, a man was found dead in a bath, in the Goulston-square Baths,
when the verdict recorded was, "Found dead from drowning." Now, in not one of these instances,
does it appear that a post mortem examination was made, and the verdict of the jury throws no
more light upon the cause of death than had been previously ascertained by the constable or