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Order III. Old People.—Old Age was the registered cause of
183 deaths, a large number of which happened in the Workhouse
Infirmary.
Class V.—VIOLENT DEATHS.
These number 101, and were, with two exceptions, returned by the
Coroner. Suffocation caused 48 deaths, of which no less than 46
were amongst infants under one year of age. A large number of
these were what is popularly known as "overlaid," a good many
happening on Saturday nights, when the parents probably indulging
in a heavy supper, with or without an extra allowance of beer, afterwards
go to bed with the infant between them ; presently the little
thing slips down beneath the bed clothes, and not being able to get
any fresh air, soon suffocates, and is found in the morning, dead.
Fractures and Contusions caused 21 deaths ; Drowning, 8 ; Foison, 3 ;
and Incised Wounds, 1. Twelve deaths were Suicidal, and one was
Homicide.
CAUSES NOT SPECIFIED.
In five instances the cause of death was returned in such an
indefinite manner as to render proper classification impossible.
DEATHS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
440 deaths occurred in the various public institutions in this parish ;
of these 329 occurred in the workhouse (193 males, 136 females),
76 in the City of London Hospital for Diseases of the Chest
(49 males, 27 females), and 32 in Bethnall House Lunatic Asylum
(15 males, 17 females).
For the following particulars I am indebted to Dr. Butler, Resident
Medical Officer to St. Matthew's Infirmary.
New Cases admitted into St. Matthew's Infirmary, from
January ist to December 31ST, 1877:-
New
Cases.
Deaths
Quarter ending 31st March, 1877
456
90
„ 30th June, 1877
396
80
,, 30th September, 1877
401
70
,, 31st December, 1877
442
87
Total
1695
327