View report page

32
may be considered to have ceased, although severe the destructive effects on life have not been so great as
occurred in the former epidemic.
Measles. The average annual number of deaths is about twelve, during the year thirteen deaths have
been registered.
Whooping Cough. Less fluctuation is observed in the annual rate of mortality, in relation to this disease
than is noticed in some other diseases of its class, the average number of deaths is eleven, and this year
thirteen fatal cases have been registered.
Diarrhœa. This disease is chiefly fiital to infants under two years of age, and prevails in July, August
and September, twenty-six deaths have been registered, which is exactly the annual average for ten years.
Diptheria. Only one death has been referred to this disease, in the two previous years the mortality was
unusually large.
Births. For several successive years there had been an increase in the number of births,
but last year there was a slight decrease, amounting to seventeen, I considered this slight
check to increase of population as an exceptional circumstance and that opinion is confirmed
in some degree by the number of births which have been registered in the year ending
March 31st, 1877; the number recorded being one thousand two hundred and sixty-seven compared with
one thousand one hundred and ninety-two in the previous year, thus shewing an increase of serentyfive.
Births registered during the year in quarterly divisions:—
Males.
Females.
Total.
From April 1st, 1876, to .June 30th 1876
141
157
298
,, July 1st, 1876, to September 30th, 1876
103
138
3 1
,, October 1st. 1876, to December 31st, 1876
153
159
312
„ January 1st, 1877, to March 31st, 1877
185
171
356
642
625
1267
Deaths. The opening of the Infirmary at Rotherhithe in connection with the St. Olaves Union, has
already, and will in future considerably augment the aggregate number of registered deaths; one hundred
and seven deaths occurred in the Infirmary and Workhouse in the year ending March 31st, 1877, which
large addition has increased the aggregete number to seven hundred and eighteen ; six hundred and seventytwo
deaths were recorded in the previous year, so that there is an apparent increase of forty-six, but I shall
hereafter prove, that instead of an increase there is some diminution in the rate of mortality.