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REPORT.
Gentlemen,
According to my annual practice, I have to lay before you an account of
the mortality and sickness in the district, and also of the sanitary improvements which have been
effected during the twelve months, terminating on the 31st December.
It will be perceived, on referring to the tables of mortality, that, out of a population,
estimated at 84.000, 2321, including 189 non-residents, have died daring the year 1859. This
number, on the deduction of the non-residents, represents a death-rate of 25 per 1000. During
the previous year the deaths, including those of the non-residents (216), were 2444, representing
a death-rate of 26 per 1000. The decrease in the mortality during the year 1859 is 95, when
compared with the mortality in 1858. On comparing the births during the same periods, it
will be seen, that in 1858 they were 2742, and in 1859, 2826, showing an increase of 84.
During the quarter recently terminated, the mortality, including the deaths of 41 nonresidents,
is 598, while, in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, it was 673, including
52 non-residents, There is, therefore, a decrease of 63 in the mortality of the last three
months, when compared with that in the corresponding quarter of 1858.
The births registered in the quarter are 704, viz, 381 males, and 323 females; and
for the corresponding period of the preceding year, they were 707, viz., 363 males, and 344
females.
The week, during the last quarter, in which the greatest mortality prevailed, was that
ending December 31st, when 64 deaths were registered. The cold, about a week before this
period, was very severe, the thermometer, on Saturday, the 17th December, standing at 15.5°
or 16.5° below the freezing point, a degree of cold greater than on any day since the 22nd
December, 1855. On the 24th November, 1858, when the thermometer stood at 20.5°, or 11.5°
below the freezing point, the mortality in the following week was 65. The fact that a greater
mortality always immediately accompanies or succeeds very cold weather, is most important to
be borne in mind by every one, especially by those who have the charge of institutions containing
a large number of inmates ; for by proper care, in regulating the temperature of the
day and sleeping rooms, and in providing an increase of food and warmer clothing for the
inmates, the mortality may, to a certain extent, be lessened.
The deaths from epidemic diseases, during the last quarter, are 119, viz., 23 from smallpox,
15 from measles, 40 from scarlet fever, 3 from diphtheria,* 1 from hooping-cough, 15
from diarrhoea, and 22 from typhus. In the corresponding quarter of the previous year,
the total number was 122, viz , 2 from small-pox, 2 from measles, 44 from scarlet fever, 32 from
hooping-coagb, 10 from diarrhoea, and 32 from typhus. The increase in the mortality from these
diseases is principally observed in small-pox, measles, and diarrhoea ; while, in fever, hoopingcough,
and scarlet fever, the mortality is diminished. The mortality from epidemic diseases, in the
year 1859 is less by 27 than it was in 1858 ; the deaths in the former named period, being 471, and
in the latter, 498. On perusing table No. 5, which shows the mortality from epidemic
diseases, it will be observed, that while there is an increase in small-pox, diarrhoea, and scarlet
fever, the deaths from fever have diminished. Not only is the mortality from fever diminished,
but the cases which have been attended by the medical officers of the union have been fewer,
the number for 1859 being 411, and for 1858, 590.
*The total deaths from diphtheria for the year are 10. The medical officers of the union have not recorded a single case
of this disease during the year, and 6 only were recorded by them in 1858. The records of the Eastern Dispensary do
not show a single case of diphtheria during the year ending March, 1859. This district has, therefore, been comparatively
free from the ravages of this fatal disease.