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REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH. 13
mode of reckoning is very fallacious as regards our own parishes.
The actual numbers of the population can only be ascertained at the
next Census in 1871. The total mortality in Fulham and Hammersmith
in 1867 has been 1222. An analysis of the causes of death
shows satisfactorily that no increase has taken place in deaths arising
from what are considered preventible diseases; on the contrary, the
mortality from these during the past year has been by no means
excessive. Neither fevers, measles, whooping cough, nor diarrhoea,
have added any large number to our death rate, and though 1222
deaths have occurred amongst our population, the causes of death
have not arisen from anything showing defect of sanitary condition.
The improvement effected in the water supply to the poor has, I
believe, produced a marked diminution in the prevalence of diarrhoea
amongst them. Some qualification, however, in these remarks must
yet be made. Infant mortality, in the great majority of cases, is
not a destiny of nature. There can be no reason for supposing that
nearly 50 per cent. of our deaths should arise in children at and under
five years of age, or should be from what we popularly term a natural
cause, Still, there is the fact before us. Year after year the same
tale is told, and 1867 offers no exception. Five hundred and twelve
of the deaths recorded have been of children who had not reached
their fifth year.
Of the diseases of the zymotic character, diarrhoea proved most
fatal, though only sixty-seven deaths arose from this cause throughout
the year. Fevers of various kinds cut off thirty-one lives, smallpox
fourteen, measles eight, scarlatina twelve, diptheria seven, whoopingcough
twenty-five, cholera four, carbuncle two. Phthisis destroyed
one hundred and fifty-five persons.
The number of deaths which have occurred in the workhouse
during the year has been eighty-seven, in lunatic asylums nine, in
Roman Catholic institutions twenty-eight, in alms houses fifteen, in
the West London Hospital eighteen. Forty-four inquests have been
returned.
This catalogue of deaths I feel does not contrast unfavourably
with a population of nearly or quite 50,000 people. Again, out of
1222 deaths 199 persons had attained the age of seventy years and
upwards, seven of whom were nonogenarians. Independently of
tubercular diseases, which cut off 228 lives, diseases of the organs of
respiration come next in order, and from these 206 persons died.
The deaths of eighty-one persons were also registered as arising solely
from natural decay. Such, gentlemen, is our bill of fare for the
year just past, and now in the middle of 1868 we still have favourable
conditions prevailing. There is reason for much thankfulness
in this; our poor especially are in healthfulness; work is by no means