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5
It is satisfactory to note, in the presence of increased population,
that the death rate compares favourably with that for the whole
metropolis; the rate from general mortality being lower, while that for
infectious diseases is just the same as the average for the whole metropolis,
and much lower than for many other metropolitan districts.
Taking into consideration the central position of the Hamlet, entirely
surrounded by the dense populations of adjoining districts, these
mortality rates must be accepted as most favourable. I attribute much
of this satisfactory health condition to supplying the occupants of
houses with printed sanitary instructions and general information upon
matters relative to the public health.
The inerease of 54 in the deaths from infectious diseases over the
previous year was caused by an excess in the mortality from measles,
scarlet fever, and diphtheria, in all the others there was a decrease ; the
small number of deaths from small pox is, I trust, an indication of the
extinction of the prolonged fatal epidemic which continued for upwards
of two years.
Diarrhoea was also much less fatal than in the previous year,
doubtless, owing to the general low temperature, the principal cause of
the disease being impure and tainted food, the decomposition or contamination
may be slight and undetectable by ordinary observation and
taste, but none the less capable of causing dangerous and fatal illness.
Hence, the necessity of extreme care in food preservation, more
especially in warm weather, the danger arises not so much from high
temperature or the natural process of decomposition, as from food being
stored in such places and in such a way as to be subjected to contamination
by emanations from drains, house sinks, dust bins, water closets,
flies, and the polluted air of close and crowded rooms; it is a common
occurrence for various kinds of provisions to be brought for inspection
on Sundays and Mondays, after undergoing the ordeal of being subjected
to these atmospheric conditions during the previous few hours,
although apparently fresh and sweet when purchased. Feeble vital
powers from various adverse causes, also largely contribute to make
children easy victims to this fatal disease, which nothing but improved
dietary and sanitary surroundings can mitigate.
Scarlet fever was the only disease in this class exceptionally fatal,
this is the most intractable infection with which we have to combat,
but even its subtle destructive power can be successfully defeated by
judicious management and sanitation.
Table V., showing deaths at various ages, gives the usual result
with regard to the youngest; the deaths during the first year after birth