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The deaths being (excluding 511 of non-residents) 1837, the rate of
mortality has been, during the year, 23.9 per 1000, or 1 in 40.1 of all
living. The rate of mortality during the preceding year was 26.1 per 1000.
In making a comparison, however, of the rate of mortality of this
District with that of others, the total deaths in the London Hospital must
be eliminated, which this year, as before stated, amount to 716. This gives
a rate of mortality of 21.3 per 1000. The rate of mortality for this year is
lower than it has been for the last eleven years, as may be seen by referring
to Table No. 5 in the Appendix.
Deaths from Epidemic Diseases.
Of the total deaths during the year, there were 229 from epidemic
diseases, viz.: 8 from small-pox, 16 from measles, 18 from scarlet-fever and
diphtheria, 57 from hooping-cough, 103 from diarrhoea, and 27 from fever.
During the last three years 11 deaths from small-pox have occurred in this
District, viz.: 1 in 1874, 2 in 1875, and 8 in 1876. During the three years
1871-2-3, only 4 deaths from small-pox occurred in this District, whereas
14 deaths, including the 6 which took place in the Small Pox Hospital,
have occurred during the Quarter ending 30th December, 1876.
The death-rate from epidemic diseases for the year, in relation to the
total mortality, is 11.3 per cent.
Pauper Illness in the District.
The number of out-door sick paupers, who have been attended by the
Medical Officers of the Union, has been 2281. During the previous year
the number was 2474. The extraordinary annual diminution of the outdoor
sick paupers, from upwards of 17,000, in the years 1867 and 1868, to
2281, is a matter of great satisfaction to the rate-payers of this District.
Illness in the 'Workhouse.
The cases of illness in the Workhouse during the year have been 3216,
including 151 cases of syphilis and 33 of lead poisoning.
From the Table at page 19 it will be seen that a large amount of sanitary
work has been accomplished during the year. To the amount of work as
set forth in this Table there must be added that which the Inspectors have
done under the Adulteration of Food Act.
The healthiness, or unhealthiness, of a District ought not to be estimated
by the rate of mortality only. A great many circumstances must be taken
into account before we can arrive at the true sanitary condition of any
locality, and are able to say authoritatively that a town having a
mortality of 21 per 1000 is more healthy than another with a deathrate
of 22 or 23 per 1000. There can, however, be no doubt that
the death-rates of the various Districts, as given by the Registrar-General,
have their value; and, wherever a death-rate is ascertained to be greatly in
excess, it will certainly be found that several causes operating prejudicially