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There are also recorded the following cases:—" Sudden death," a child, 2 years old,
from diphtheria, the patient not having a medical attendant, but was treated by its father,
under Dr. Coffin's system,—a child, aged 5 years, whose death was caused by burns, through
the parents' neglect, they having left her alone,—a sailor, 18 years old, met with his death
from inhaling noxious vapours arising from the burning of coals. Four persons committed
suicide, two (males) by hanging, and two (females) by poison, one by prussic acid, and the
other by " oil of vitriol." There was one death from the inhalation of chloroform which was
administered to a patient while under delirium tremens. A death is recorded as the result of
exposure to cold, and from the effects of excessive drinking. Although a more correct record
than formerly is now kept of the cause of death, in cases where inquests are held, yet, from the
two subjoined cases, there appears to be no certainty when such investigations will take place,
for in neither of them was an inquest held, although death in each case was apparently produced
by violence ; one being registered " Congestion of the brain, from a fall," and the other
" Concussion of the brain, convulsions."
Having compared the mortality in the year 1859 with that of 1858, I now pass to the
consideration of the sickness during the same periods. It appears, from the returns of the
medical officers of the union, that the total number of cases for the past year is 16,701, and for the
previous year, the' cumber recorded is 16,718. For the quarter, the number is 2762. This is
exclusive of the 498 cases in the workhouse. The total number of cases of sickness in the
workhouse for the year is 1625. The cases of zymotic diseases attended to in the workhouse
during the quarter were,—3 of small-pox, 33 of fever, 25 of diarrhoea, 9 of erysipelas, 7 of carbuncle,
4 of ague, 1 of diphtheria, and 6 of rheumatic fever. There were five cases of delirium
tremens, the result of intemperance, admitted into that institution.
Although the total number of eases of sickness among the out-door poor, during the
year is only 17 less than that for the previous year; yet, the number in the several epidemic
diseases varies very materially. Thus, small-pox rose from 20 to 242 ; scarlatina from 146 to
175; diarrhoea from 946 to 1209; while measles diminished from 427 to 179, hooping-cough
from 330 to 146 ; and fever* from 590 to 411.
It is not so much the number, as the class of cases of sickness amongst the poor, which
shows the unhealthiness or otherwise of a district; the obtaining an order for medical attendance,
being too frequently made the pretext for soliciting relief in food or money.
Having brought under your notice the mortality and sickness iu the district for the past
year, and compared them with the mortality and sickness of the preceding year, it remains for
me to point out the places where deaths from zymotic diseases have been the most prevalent,
and where cases of fever have been most numerous. It is to those localities, that the labours of
your sanitary officers must be particularly directed; for, from the concurrent testimony of the
medical profession, the whole class of diseases called "zymotic" may, to a great extent bg
prevented, and their severity modified. I have appended to this report a table containing the
names of all the places, where this class of diseases has occurred ; from which it appears that
the following localities are the most unhealthy:— Whitchapel: Osboru-place, Wentworth-street,
Marlborough-court, Queen Ann-street, Plough-street, Buckle-street, Holloway-court, and Slater's-court.
Aldgale: Crown-court and Queen-street. Spitalfields: Quaker-street, Grey Eaglestreet,
Corbett's-court, Flower and Dean-street, Keate-street, and Thrawl-street. Mile End
New Town: Church-street, Princes-street, Dunk-street, King Edward-street, Pelham-street,
Hunt-street, Well-street, and Spring-gardens.
Some improvements have been effected in several of the densely crowded localities, by
the government, in forming new streets,—by societies of philanthropic individuals, in erecting
model lodging houses and more healthy habitations for the working classes,—by the registration
of the common lodging houses, &c., the result of which has been a diminution in the rate of
mortality from 45 per 1000, which was the rate in 1838 to 25 per 1000, which is the rate of
mortality in 1859.† This interesting fact affords us great encouragement to persevere in the
* The term "fever,'' used in this report, embraces simple continued fever, typhus and typhoid. Typhus
is said to owe its origin to overcrowding; and typhoid, to the emanations from decomposing organic matter
Typhoid fever is sometimes called enteric fever, and sometimes pythogeuic fever.
+ See table No. 9.