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The number of births as compared with the deaths was very large,
viz.: 638 against 382, or an excess of 256 births. The rate of births was
167 to each 100 deaths Of the 638 births 338 were male and 300 female
children; and of the 382 deaths 184 were of males and 198 of females.
The births were registered in the various sub-districts as follows:—43
in Stoke Newington, 37 in Stamford hill, 197 in West Hackney, 248
in Hackney, and 113 in South Hackney. The 382 deaths were registered
as follows: 29 in Stoke Newington, 19 in Stamford Hill, 102 in
West Hackney, 165 in Hackney, 167 in South Hackney sub-districts.
The largest number of deaths, 41, were registered in the 7th. week of
the quarter and the smallest, 14, in the first; of the total deaths 22
occurred in the East London Union and German Hospital, so that 360
only belong to the district.
The deaths from epidemic diseases of all kinds were much fewer than
usual, as 78 only were registered against 94 in the corresponding quarter
of 1859, and 100 in 1858. This great reduction was caused by the
extremely small number of diarrhoea and fever cases registered, there
being 8 cases of fever only against 22 in 1859. This is one of the best
proofs of the great benefit the district has derived from the sanitary
works carried out; from the great rain fall and the moderate temperature.
We can scarcely expect so healthy a quarter as the last for some
years, as themeteorological conditionsof the atmosphere were so conducive
to health in a suburban district like Hackney. I have repeatedly stated
that I consider most of the suburban districts of London to present the
best possible arrangements for health, viz : a fair intermixture of town
and country, where the air is neither too dry nor too moist; good sewerage
and house drainage, an undulating surface of the ground, and the population,
except in a few localities, not too dense.
Of the remaining deaths 17 were produced by diseases having various
6eats, 59 from tubercular affections, including consumption; 46 from
affections of the brain and nerves; 24 from diseases of the heart and
blood vessels; 74 from diseases of the lungs; 12 from maladies of the
digestive apparatus; 7 from kidney and allied complaints; 23 from old
age; and no less than 22 from violence or neglect. Of these latter 7
occurred from suffocation in children under 1 year old, and 4 from
drowning. I am sorry to say that deaths of young children from suffocation
are much on the increase.