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Cholera and Choleraic Diarrhœa have occurred within the Metropolitan
District during the last two months, it behoves all persons in authority
not to relax their exertions in endeavouring to improve the public health.
Although the deaths from Diarrhoea have decreased from 11 in the corresponding
quarter of last year to 5 in this quarter, yet, the cases of this
disease, as shown in the returns of the Medical Officers of the Union,
have increased from 215 to 264.
The deaths caused by diseases of the respiratory organs, exclusive of
Consumption, have been 88. Consumption was fatal to 94, which is in
the proportion of 17.6 per cent. of the total deaths, and if we exclude the
53 deaths from Violence from the total deaths, the proportion of deaths
from Consumption is 19.1 per cent., or nearly one-fifth. Bad air, overcrowding,
insufficient food and clothing are the chief agents in producing
this disease. During the corresponding quarter of last year, the deaths
from Consumption were 89, which is at the rate of 12.6 per cent. of the
total deaths. The deaths from Consumption have consequently increased
in the proportion of 5.0 per cent. of the total mortality. The deaths from
the other Tubercular Diseases have been 29, viz. : 4 from Hydrocephalus,
or Water on the Brain, and 25 from Mesenteric Disease, or Scrofulous
Enlargement of the Glands of the Abdomen.
The mortality of children under 5 years of age has been 201. This
is 37.7 per cent. of the total mortality. In the sub-district of Aldgate,
the proportion of deaths of children under 5, is 51.0 per cent.; and in
the Spitalfields sub-district it is 54.3 per cent. The high rate of mortality
among children is, cceteris paribus, usually considered to be a test of the
insalubrity of a district. The number of uncertified deaths has been 3.
The deaths of persons above 80 years of age, have beep 10. Of these, 1
occurred at the age of 85, another at 89, and another at the very advanced
age of 97. Of the 10 deaths of persons above 80, 5 occurred in the
Workhouse.
The number of Inquests has been 70, of which 41 were held on
the bodies of persons who died in the London Hospital. The deaths from
burns and scalds were 4; from suffocation in bed, 5 (all children); from
mechanical violence, 27; of these, 13 were caused by vehicles in the
public streets, and 2 by railway engines. An inquest was held on the
body of a child 18 months old, who died of Small-pox. A batcher residing
in Buck's Row, died in the Hospital from glanders. The death of a child
3 years old, was caused by its attempting to swallow boiling water. A
death from an overdose of opium is recorded. Three deaths were caused
by drowning.