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9
Diptheria has cut off 21 persons. Of the 43 deaths from Diarrhoea, 30 took
place in the three months July, August, and September. Phthisis has destroyed
117 lives.
The infant mortality for 1863 has been again high; of the 929 deaths 420
or 45 per cent. had not reached five years of age, and of these 214 had not
attained one year.
The diseases which last year produced this destruction of infant life were,
Miasmatic, 140; Tubercular, 58; Diseases of the Brain and Nervous System,
34; Diseases of the Organs of Respiration, 68; Diseases of Nutrition, 45 ;
Accident or Negligence, 12; and Parasitic, 8: leaving 55 from other causes.
The deaths from Parasitic diseases are worthy of remark, since they point
directly to the use of impure food for their origin—the milk of diseased cows
in all probability being the special source.
The mortality of elderly persons is not without its interest also, 113 persons
having attained 70 years and upwards: 64 deaths occurred in persons between
70 and 80, 42 between 80 and 90, six between 90 and 100, and one person
was aged 101 years at death. The latter was a respectable inhabitant of Fulham
for many years. The smallest number of deaths (66) occurred in February, and
the largest (90) in December.
The smallest number of deaths (12) from Zymotic diseases occurred in March,
the largest (24) in December. Of the deaths from Tubercular diseases, February
contributed the smallest number (7), and August the largest (20). January,
February, March, April, and June, gave 13, 13, 14, 14, 14, respectively, from
Diseases of the Organs of Respiration, the lowest number (3) arising in October.
Diseases of Nutrition have destroyed 46 lives, 45 of which were infants.
27 deaths have been produced by Accident or Negligence, 2 by Homicide, and
3 by Suicide. The number of deaths in Lunatic Asylums have been 15, in
Alms-Houses 24, in the Union-House 54, and in the West London Hospital 7.
55 Inquests have been held, 38 in Hammersmith and 17 in Fulham. 1459
births have been registered during the year, shewing an increase of 530 over
the deaths.
It cannot be expected that Sanitary measures and appliances shall have an
absolute and perfect control over diseases of a Zymotic character. These
maladies are called preventible, since we have without a doubt a large and
highly evidenced power of mitigating their effects. They are of more importance
because though manifestly subject in a great degree to atmospheric influences,
they are prone to fix themselves on large communities, and in proportion to
indifference to sanitary measures, their virulence and progress are either stayed
or developed.
The Sanitary exertions of the past and previous years in the Fulham District
have I am sure not been without their fruit. In accordance with your annual
custom, the recorded details of the Sanitary work of the year will be included
in the Annual Report of the Board.
No absolutely correct statement however can be made as to the exact number: ot houses benefited by the Sanitary inspections of your officers, since it occurs
i in many instances that houses which although somewhat dirty, are not sufficiently
unwholesome to justify compulsory proceedings, are cleansed by the
landlords on being informed of its being desirable to do so. This salutary
effect has been gained by a temperate exercise of the powers of the law, and landlords of small property, as a rule, are becoming much more willing to fall
in with the requirements of Sanitary Officers. The condition of many of the
poorer dwellings has shewn a marked improvement; and though there is still