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8
As the rate of death from epidemic diseases varies very much in each
year, 1 shall next form a Table for the last three years to show their
alternations in this district.

From this table we learn that small pox produced an extremely small
proportionate mortality, that measles was less fatal than in 1856, but
more so than in 1855, that scarlet fever caused 11 deaths fewer than in
either of the other years, that hooping cough and diarrhoea were more
fatal in 1857 than in 1855 or 1856, and that fever has been gradually
declining in fatality during each of these years. This latter is a
subject for congratulation, for so far as it could be ascertained, it
attacked afar larger number of persons in 1857, than in either of the
other years. We have therefore good reason for assuming that the
sanitary measures adopted under this Act, have had much influence
in producing this lower rate of death from fever.
In order to calculate out the rate of death and the mean duration of
life of the population of this district, it was necessary to ascertain the
number of persons who died within its limits, excluding the deaths in
the East London Union and the German Hospital, and the ages at
which they died. The results thus obtained are not absolutely correct,
but will be a near approximation, as it is impossible to ascertain how
many persons leave the district ill, and die elsewhere from diseases which
commenced whilst they were living in it. The age at death is therefore
somewhat too high, and to correct it absolutely, all the deaths of
denizens of Hackney, which take place in the Hospital* and Infirmaries
of the Metropolis, and their ages at death should be ascertained
and added to those registered in the district. As this cannot be done,
it is better to eliminate deaths in Hospitals altogether, so that a yearly
comparison of identical data can be made. Another error may arise
from the calculated number of inhabitants not being correct. Having
premised these observations, I proceed to state, after making the necessary
deduction', I have ascertained there were 608 persons who
died between the day of birth and the 20th year; 158 between the