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The deaths of persons above 80 years of age are 30; of these two had arrived at the
advanced age of 90, other two at the ages of 91 and 95 respectively, and one at the great age
of 101 years.
The principal causes of death are from diseases of the respiratory organs. These diseases,
including Phthisis or Consumption, were fatal to 292, a proportion to the total mortality of 39, 3
per cent. Consumption proved fatal to 81 persons, of whom, 65 died between the ages of 20 and
60. Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs,[numbered 105 victims, Bronchitis or inflammation
of the mucous membrane of the lungs, 84. The deaths from violence, exclusive of those from
burns and scalds, are 17, of which, 10 are between the ages of 40 and 60. The deaths from epidemic
diseases are 88, viz: 12 from small-pox, 12 from measles, 9 from scarlet fever, 12 from
hooping-cough, 11 from diarrhoea, 1 from diphtheria, and 31 from fever. In the corresponding
quarter of the preceding year, the deaths from epidemic diseases were likewise 88; but the
number under each class has varied. Thus in small-pox, diarrhoea, and fever, the number is
greater; while in measles, hooping-cough, and scarlet fever, it is less. Two deaths in the
London Hospital were occasioned by tetanus or "locked jaw." A case of sudden death occurred
in Pieldgate-street, from " rupture of the heart."
The deaths in the Workhouse are 115; this is 53 above the number in the corresponding
quarter of the previous year. As regards the ages at death in this establishment, there are 31
under 20 years of age, of which number, 20 are infants under one year, 37 are above 60, of which,
8 are upwards of 80 years of age; the remainder, 47, are, of persons in the prime of life, between
the ages of 40 and 60. If we exclude the deaths of the 52 non-residents, the proportion of the
mortality in the Workhouse is nearly 17 per cent, or 1 in 6 of the total mortality proper to
this district.
The Medical Officers of the Union attended 3356 new cases of illness. This is 420
above the number for the corresponding quarter of the preceding year. The cases of small-pox
were 36, measles 53, scarlet fever 27, hooping-cough 21, diarrhoea 144,, fever 78, and ague 11.
On comparing these numbers with those in the corresponding quarter of 1859, it will be seen
that, while small-pox, hooping-cough and fever, show a decrease in their numbers; diarrhœa
and measles have greatly increased, the former from 88 to 114, and the latter, from 13 to 53.
Prom the 3rd to the 17th March, a period.of three weeks, the Medical Oflicers of the Union
attended 960 new cases of illness, being a weekly average of 320.
The cases of illness in the Workhouse were 549, of which, 277 were attended by
Mr. Champnets, and 272 by Mr. Kichardson. These numbers include 12 cases of small-pox, 3
of measles, 4 of hooping-cough, 35 of diarrhœa, and 16 of fever. The cases of illness in the
Workhouse for the corresponding quarter of 1859 were 375, including 1 of small pox, 26 of
diarrhoea, and 40 of fever.
My attention having been directed to the injurious effects of Mercury upon the workmen
employed at a large factory in, Spitalfields, where that metal is used in combination with tinfoil
for the silvering of looking glasses, 1 visited the premises, and examined two of the workmen
who were suffering from the effects of the absorption of the finely divided particles of