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accompanied by a considerable increase in the number of births
The only periods of life, during which, the death rate has
advanced, are those between 40 and 50, and above 70. In every
other decennial interval there has been a marked, and in some
instances considerable, diminution.
81 deaths will be found classed under the head of "violence'
privation, poison and premature birth;" 31 under that of
"fever;" 4 under that of "diarrhoea and acute dysentery of
adults ;" 82 under that of " scarlet fever and diphtheria;" 12
under that of "small pox;" 15 under that of "erysipelas,
pyoemia and puerperal fever;" 183 under that of "diarrhoea,
bronchitis and pneumonia of infants under three years of age;"
66 under that of "measles, hooping-cough and croup;" 89
under that of "hydrocephalus and convulsions of infancy;"
182 under that of "phthisis and other tubercular diseases;"
and 622 under that of "other diseases, chiefly chronic."
Of the diseases just enumerated, several only call for remark.
The deaths from hydrocephalus and infantile convulsions were
less numerous by 19 this year than last. The mortality from
hooping-cough, measles and croup sunk from 108 in 1858, to
66 in 1859; they prevailed chiefly in Peckham and St. George's,
and were most fatal during the first quarter of the year. Again
scarlet fever and diphtheria showed a diminished mortality, the
deaths therefrom being 82 this year, against 143 last; these
affections prevailed pretty equally throughout the entire year,
but were most severe in Peckham. Small-pox and fever, on the
other hand, shewed a decided increase. From the former the
deaths rose from 7 to 12; it was fatal chiefly in Peckham, and
in the first six months of the year. From the latter, the deaths
increased from 20 to 31, and were most numerous in St. George's,
but spread pretty uniformly over the whole twelve months.
Further, deaths of young children from diarrhoea and acute pulmonary
affections mounted from 126 to 183. Deaths from