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occurring in the Workhouse, and 102 in the Lunatic Asylums,
which, in forming a comparative estimate of the death rates of
the several districts, ought to be proportionately divided between
them. In both of these institutions, the deaths were considerably
less numerous than last year.
The mortality is generally, in consequence of inclemency of
weather, greater during the first and last quarters of the year,
than it is during the second and third; but we find that there
was a little variety in this respect during the year which has
just passed. In the first three months the mortality was unusually
high ; in the second, it dropped to the lowest figure, at
which it has ever stood during my tenure of office ; in the third>
it again became somewhat excessive; and in the fourth, it underwent
a comparative diminution, and sunk below the average.
The disturbing influences to which these fluctuations were due,
are easily recognised on examining the tables appended to this
report. During the latter part of the year 1858, we were
suffering severely from epidemics of scarlet fever, measles and
hooping-cough; and these, though diminishing in severity, still
produced a considerable number of deaths in the first quarter of
1859, and rendered the mortality during that period unusually
high. The excessive death-rate in the third quarter again was
due to the very great prevalence of diarrhoea, and to its fatality,
especially among the young.
494 children were cut off under 5 years of age, and 58 between
5 and 10; 17 persons died between 10 and 15, 26 between 15
and 20, 77 between 20 and 30, 113 between 30 and 40, 122
between 40 and 50, 114 between 50 and 60, 138 between 60
and 70, and 208 from 70 upwards. Infantile mortality, therefore,
is still considerable, but is less by 33 than it was last year.
It is less in every one of the districts except Peckham, and there
the increase amounts only to one. The total diminution in the
number of early deaths is the more satisfactory, in that it is