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17
suggested that in the same way as there is probably only one
force in nature which manifests itself as light, heat, electricity,
magnetism, motion, chemical and perhaps vital action, according
to the "material substratum" through which it is rendered
cognizable to our senses, so there may be only one zymotic force
which can give rise to Measles, Scarlet Fever, Small Pox, or fever
according to the part of the body attacked. There is, however,
no such proof of the latter proposition as of the former, which as
pointed out in my "report on the past and present condition of
the Hackney District" (1856), was then pretty fully proved.
The total number of deaths during the year has been very
large, viz., 2814 against 2464 last year, but considering the
immense mortality from Small Pox it is less than for 1870, and
considerably less than in 1869. These 2814 deaths include 66
deaths in the East London Union and 83 in the German Hospital,
but exclude 471 deaths of non-residents which occurred in
the Small Pox Hospitals. There were 41.48 births against the
2814 deaths, or deducting the 66 deaths in the City of London
Union, against 2748 deaths, leaving a surplus of 1492 births
over deaths. This is a large excess and shows that, even without
immigration, the population of the district is considerably on
the increase. There were, as shewn in Table III, 316 births in
Stoke Newiugton, 204 in Stamford Hill, 971 in West Hackney,
1583 in Hackney, and 1074 in South Hackney, the per centages
being 7.6 in the first named sub-district, 4.9 in the second, 23.4
in the third, 38.2 in the fourth, and 25.9 in the last. These do
not vary very much from those of last year except that there is
a decided increase in Stoke Newington.