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15
1st.—It will be seen that 472 children died under five years
of age. This number is unquestionably large, for it forms 35.5
per cent. of the entire number of deaths. But the infantile
mortality is certainly not larger than it usually is in proportion
to the gross number of deaths, and when compared with the
very numerous births (2243) which have occurred in the same
period, may be accepted as an indication, on the whole, of
favorable infantile health.
2nd—Have epi-or en-demic diseases prevailed to any
serious extent? Of course the various affections which constitute
these classes of disease, have as usual varied in the
number of victims which they have severally made, but the
aggregate mortality from these causes has been light. Both
fever, scarlet-fever, diphtheria, and small-pox have been less
fatal than they were last year, and though hooping-cough and
measles have slightly increased, the mortality from them has
not been high. Further, diarrhoea, which is generally fatal
during the autumn, especially to young children, has prevailed
to a very inconsiderable extent. Hence the statement with
which I started relative to the health of Camberwell during
the year 1860, may be looked upon as confirmed from all
points of view.
The following is a brief summary of the more important
results of the mortuary tables, with the sole addition of occasional
brief explanatory comments.
Of the deaths, 1328, (see Table I,) which occurred during
1860, 608 took place in males, 720 in females, 19 occurred
in Dulwich, 353 in St. George's, 461 in Camberwell and 495
in Peckham. Of the 461 returned for Camberwell, however,
(see Table II,) 61 took place in the Lunatic Asylums and 90
in the Workhouse. In Dulwich, the deaths were fewer by 1
than last year, in St. George's fewer by 11, in Camberwell
fewer by 22, and in Peckham fewer by 5.