View report page

REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,
For the Quarter ended 29th March, 1879.
To the Board of Works, Whitechapel District.
Gentlemen,
In the Quarter that ended on Saturday, the 29th March,
1879, the total births in the District were 753, viz.: 356 males and 397
females ; and the deaths 647, viz.: 347 males and 300 females. The
excess of births over deaths has therefore been, during this Quarter, 106.
As the deaths of 108 non-residents, which occurred in the London Hospital,
are included in the mortality returns, a deduction of such deaths must be
made in order to estimate the correct mortality of the District, thereby
reducing the total mortality to 539, and increasing the number of births
above deaths to 214. An allowance, however, must be made for the deaths
of residents in public institutions outside the District ; but of those I have
no return. In the corresponding Quarter of the previous year the total
births were 705, and the total deaths 619.
The rate of mortality for this quarter, deducting the deaths of nonresidents,
is 7 per 1000 of the total population, which is about the same
rate as for the corresponding quarter of last year, or at the annual rate of
28 per 1000. For the year ended 29th March, 1879, the rate of mortality
in the entire District was 25.6 per 1000.
While, however, the deaths from epidemic diseases are reduced from
73 to 38, the deaths from diseases of the respiratory organs, including
phthisis, have increased from 225 to 280. This increase may be accounted
for by the low temperature which has prevailed during the whole of the
last three months. Bronchitis proved fatal to 150 persons, pneumonia to
62, and consumption, or phthisis, to 52; while in the corresponding quarter
of last year bronchitis caused 113 deaths, pneumonia 57, and consumption,
or phthisis, 48.