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deaths caused by burns and scalds, 9 of children who were suffocated
in bed, 36 from violence (of these, 6 were the result of injuries caused by
vehicles in the public streets), and 1 from hydrophobia, caused by the bite of
a dog. In the corresponding quarter of last year, the number of inquests
was 80.
The deaths in the Workhouse have been 119; of these, 6 were caused
by measles, 2 by diarrhoea, and 6 by fever.
The deaths in the Workhouse and Hospital together, have been 242,
which is 35.9 per cent. of the total mortality in the district.
The Medical Officers of the Union have attended 4,174 new cases of
disease, including 81 of small-pox, 31 of measles, 46 of scarlet fever, 87 of
hooping-cough, 128 of diarrhoea, and 102 of fever. In the corresponding
quarter of last year, the total number of cases was 3,929, including 15
of small-pox, 21 of measles, 23 of scarlet-fever, 101 of hooping-cough, 124
of diarrhoea, and 116 of fever.
The cases of illness in the Workhouse have been 898, of which
number Mr. Champneys attended 465, and Mr. Richardson 433. The
cases of zymotic diseases, included in the above returns, are 22 of
measles, 1 of scarlet fever, 37 of diarrhoea, 8 of hooping-cough, 53 of fever,
4 of erysipelas, 3 of carbuncle, 6 of rheumatic fever, 3 of ague, and 2 of
dysentery; there were also 3 cases of delirium tremens.
It is a matter for regret that small-pox should have again visited this
district in an epidemic form. The deaths from this disease, and the cases
of it attended by the Medical Officers, have greatly increased. From the
returns of the Medical Officers, it appears that many of the cases of smallpox
occurred in persons who had not been previously vaccinated. The
law respecting compulsory vaccination is either not sufficiently stringent,
or the best means are not adopted by the authorities to induce or compel
parents to have their children vaccinated. Mr. Richardson states that,
while attending a child with small-pox, who had not been previously
vaccinated, he was anxious to vaccinate another child of the same family,
who, likewise, had not been vaccinated, but the father refused to have the
operation performed. This child, in the course of about three weeks, was
attacked with small-pox.
The cow-sheds have several times been visited by the Inspectors. The
last time they were inspected was on the 22nd March, when it was ascertained
that the total number of cows in the entire district was 155. About