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6
epidemic is nothing like that which happened in 1871-72, as
there were 511 deaths in those years against 271 in 1876-77.
It is true that the epidemic has not yet ceased, but I do not
think it probable that anything near the mortality of 1871-72
will be reached before this one has passed away.
The number of cases communicated to the Sanitary
department is not to be taken as an absolute indication of the
prevalence of the disease in different districts, as our information
was chiefly obtained through the Relieving Officers, who kindly
sent me notice of the cases removed to Hospitals, and for which
I have to express my thanks; by weekly inspection of the books
of the District Medical Officers; by applications at this office for
the disinfection of rooms, bedding and clothing; and by the
copies of Death Returns from the District Registrars. The
number of cases in each of the different districts now given must
not, therefore, be considered as anything more than an approximative
statement of the deaths amongst all classes, and of the
cases which recovered amongst servants and the poorer classes,
but the table shows a singular exemption of the inhabitants
of De Beauvoir Town, Stoke Newington, Kingsland, West
Hackney, and Stamford Hill, in fact of the western half of the
district. This is the more peculiar as parts of Islington which
adjoins our western boundary suffered severely. The inhabitants
of the eastern and especially of the poorer parts of our district have
again suffered severely, including however those on the Priory
Estate, Lower Clapton, and in other better class streets in South
Hackney and Hackney proper. Why the inhabitants of the
Priory should have suffered so severely I cannot tell, unless it be
through the agency of the children attending the Board School,
as a number of the children go there, although I should have
thought they are of a class above that for which these schools
were provided.