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scarlet-fever, 1 of hooping-cough, 40 of diarrhoea, 23 of febricula, 1 of
choleraic-diarrhoea, and 2 of erysipelas. The total number of cases of illness
in the Workhouse has been 599; including 10 of hooping-cough, 24 of
diarrhoea, and 11 of febricula. In addition to the above cases there were 28
of syphilis; thus making a total of 627.
Uncertified Deaths.
The total number of uncertified deaths in this District for the year
ended 29th June, 1878, was 23 or 0.93 per cent.; the total deaths being
2460. Of these, 6 were in the Spitalfields Sub-district; 7 in the Mile End
New Town; 1 in the Whitechapel North; 1 in the Whitechapel Church;
5 in the Goodman's Fields; and 3 in the Aldgate Sub-district.
Upon the subject of uncertified deaths, the Registrar-General makes
the following remarks:—
"The largest proportion of uncertified deaths consists of cases in which
the deceased persons have been attended in their last illness by unqualified
practitioners, practising either on their own account, or as assistants to
registered practitioners; although, in some thinly populated parts of England
and Wales, considerable numbers of persons die without any kind of
medical attendance in their last illness.
"The proportion of uncertified causes of death showed a slight decline
from that which prevailed in the first quarter of the year, and ranged from
1.3 per cent. in London, and 2.8 in the south-eastern division, to 6.7, 7.1,
and 12.3 per cent. respectively, in the Yorkshire, Northern, and Welsh
divisions. The proportion of uncertified causes of death showed a decline in
each of the three last-mentioned divisions. As the Births and Deaths
Registration Act imposes upon registered medical practitioners the duty of
furnishing the certificates of the cause of death of patients attended during
their last illness, the non-certification of a cause of death now affords
evidence that the deceased person had not been attended during his or her
last illness by a registered medical practitioner.
"In most uncertified cases, the deceased persons have been attended
during their last illness by unqualified practitioners, practising either on
their own account or as assistants to registered practitioners. This objectionable
system really means a partnership between registered and unregistered
medical practitioners, and is the main cause of a large proportion of
uncertified causes of death in some localities."
Meteorology of Greenwich.
The Returns of the Registrar-General show that the rain-fall in the Metropolis,
during the Quarter, has been 7.28 inches. One inch deep of rain-fall on
au acre weighs (allowing 10-lbs. to a gallon, which is the weight of a gallon