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Although the warmer temperature of the summer may have occasioned an augmentation
of the various forms of bowel complaint, yet, on the other hand, it appears that
the genial warmth of the summer months has been beneficial to those persons who were
suffering from diseases of the respiratory organs; the deaths from these diseases being fiftynine
against sixty-two The mortality from croup has likewise decreased, viz, from seventeen
to six; and the deaths from consumption are less by 15, viz, 49 against 64 Three children
were suffocated in bed A newly-born infant was found dead in the streets Another newly
born infant was found drowned in the river One case of suicide is recorded—a female aged
forty died in the workhouse from concussion of the brain, occasioned by throwing herself out
of window. Intemperance was fatal to six, of which number, three died from delirium tremens
This disease is of more frequent occurrence in hot weather, and the action of alcoholic liquors
is more dangerous in summer than in winter The number of deaths recorded in the mortality
tables, under the head of intemperance, gives but a very imperfect idea of the number of
persons who die indirectly from the excessive use of intoxicating beverages Many of the
deaths from dropsy, disease of the heart, head, and liver; also several of those deaths that are
occasioned by violence may be traced to the same cause The number of inquests were fiftyseven,
of which twenty-seven were held on persons who died in the London Hospital The
uncertified deaths were twenty-one This is an increase of nine on the number of the corresponding
quarter of the preceding year It is in the district of Mile End New Town, that the
greater number of deaths, uncertified by a medical practitioner, are recorded ; for, out of the
total number of such deaths, there are ten or nearly one-half, registered in that district Among
these uncertified deaths, there are registered one from chronic bronchitis, one from enteritis,
one from scarlatina, and one from diarrhoea In a district like the Whitechapel Union, where
there are such facilities afforded to the poor for obtaining medical advice and assistance, it is
strange that so many persons should die without having been attended during their last
illness, by a medical practitioner For, that these facilities are great, is testified by the
number of applicants at the hospital and dispensaries in the district, and the medical relief
given by the union medical officers, whose advice appears to be so readily obtained, that
upwards of 11,000 annually avail themselves of it With such advantages, it is also strange
that the causes of death, being reported by unqualified persons only, should receive, from the
local registrar, a scientific classification
The deaths in the workhouse were sixty, viz: thirty-seven males and twenty-three
females Of the sixty deaths, there were twenty-six of persons between the ages of sixty and
eighty, two of persons above eighty, six of children under twelve months, and the remainder
(twenty-six) were of persons between the ages of two and sixty years of age In the corresponding
quarter of last year, the deaths in the workhouse were fifty-one
The cases of illness among the out-door poor, attended by the medical officers of the
union, were 3,635 This number is an increase of 967 upon that of the corresponding quarter of
last year I am unable to assign a cause for the annual increase of sick pauper patients
During this quarter, the increase is observable in each medical district, but the greatest
increase occurred in Mr Richardson's district, in which the number has risen from 557 to 885,
or 37 per cent The most prevalent disease was diarrhoea, 864 cases having been attended,
while the number in the corresponding quarter of the preceding year was only 383 Small-pox
shows an increase of 6, viz, 12 against 6; scarlet-fever of 4, viz, 28 against 26; hooping-cough
of 89, viz, 108against 19; whilst measles shows a decrease of 153, viz, 6against l59 Although
cases of febricula, or slight fever, have been much more numerous, the severer forms of fever
have decreased to the extent of 24, viz, 12 against 34 It is, however, highly probable, that many
of these slight cases of fever become in their course severe ones, and in some instances, even
fatal; for we observe that, by the mortality returns, the deaths from fever are on the increase,
and from the many slight cases of this disease, which are recorded, I am apprehensive that
fever cases will become more prevalent as the season advances
The cases of sickness in the workhouse were 575, of which number, 209 were males,
who were attended by Mr Champneys, and 266 were females, who were under the care of
Mr Richardson The total number of cases in the workhouse during the corresponding