View report page

208
children under 5 years of age—a mortality which was (as it
always is) specially heavy in the more prolific and more
populous portions of the Parish. Thus in Dulwich 14 per
cent. of the total deaths were due to children under 5; in
Camberwell, 32; in Peckham, 38; and in St. George's, 40.
In proportion to the total births, however, the difference is
much less; for in Dulwich these deaths were at the rate of
17 per cent. on the total births; in Camberwell, 19; in
Peckham, 22; and in St. George's, 25. The heavy deathrate
among children is owing to a variety of causes: partly
to premature birth and defective health at the time of birth,
partly to the influence of such diseases as hooping cough,
measles, and diphtheria, and the like, and largely to the
affections of the lungs and bowels to which children are
especially liable.
Tables XIII. and XIV. give a summary of the sanitary
work done by your Sanitary Inspectors during the year
ending March 25th, 1892. Owing to the circumstance that
the Public Health Act, 1891 (which has effected many important
changes in the duties, powers and procedure of
Vestries in relation to sanitary matters), came into operation
on the 1st January this year, it has been found
convenient to provide two tables: the first, (Table XIII.)
relating to the 9 months ending December 31st, the other
(Table XIV.) relating to the 3 months ending March 25th.
By collating these Tables the following facts appear:—
1st. That during the year 10,074 primary inspections
were made, including 5,843 house-to-house visits, 2,210
inspections consequent on complaints, 1,130 inspections on