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REPORT
For the Quarter ending 1st April, 1865.
Gentlemen,
During the quarter ending on Saturday, April 1st, there were
born in the Whitechapel District 758 children, of whom 405 were boys and
353 girls. In the same period 711 persons died, of whom 430 were males and
311 females. In this number are included 126 deaths which occurred in the
London Hospital. In comparing the mortality of this district with that of
others, it is necessary to exclude from the calculation all the deaths in this
institution. While, however, we deduct all the deaths in the London Hospital
from the total mortality, it is necessary also to deduct the number of its inmates
(about 420) from the total population of the district. The deaths in the
London Hospital may be divided into three classes; viz. those which were
caused by accident and were of sudden occurrence, those of persons who
resided in the district, and those of non-residents. Of the first class there
were 49, of the second 12, and of the third 65. The residences of those who
died from accident are not given in the returns.
In the corresponding quarter of the previous year the births were 770
and the deaths 767. The births, therefore, show a decrease of 12, and the
deaths of 26.
The greatest weekly mortality (87) occurred in the week terminating
on the 4th February, and the smallest (34) in that terminating on the 18th
March.
The deaths from epidemic diseases have been 129", viz. 3 from small-pox,
15 from measles, 13 from scarlet fever, 1 from diphtheria, 41 from hoopingcough,
9 from diarrhoea, and 46 from fever. The deaths from this class of
diseases are in the proportion to the total deaths of 17.4 per cent. ; but if we
exclude the deaths in the London Hospital, where only one death from this.6
class of disease (viz. hooping-cough—a child 7 years of age from Bethual
Green) is recorded, then the proportion is increased to 20.9 per cent., or
rather more than one-fifth of the total mortality. It must however be borne in
mind, that all the fever cases which occur among the poor are treated within the
district, either at their own homes or at the workhouse. In the corresponding
quarter of last year the deaths from epidemic diseases were only 101, which is
13.1 per cent. of the total deaths; but by deducting the deaths in the London
Hospital, it is increased to 15:5 per cent., or 5.4 per cent. less than the proportion
during this quarter.