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43
October 7th. Six.—Accidental fracture of the skull from being run over by a cab
Haemorrhage from want of proper attention at birth, Bronchopneumonia,
Congestion of lungs from excessive drinking, Accidentally
drowned by falling into the Docks, and Fracture of base of
skull from falling off a pile of deals,
„ 21st. None.
November 4th. One.—Found drowned in Thames.
„ 18th. Four.—Bronchitis, Angina Pectoris, Found drowned in Thames, and Accidentally
suffocated in bed.
December 2nd. Two.—Found drowned in the Surrey Commercial Docks, and Accidentally
suffocated in bed.
„ 16th. One.—Inflammation of lungs.
„ 31st. Five.—Drowned in the Docks (2), Suffocated in bed, Exhaustion
following accident, and Wasting from want of proper nourishment.
The dates, with the exception of December 31st, refer to the times of the meeting of
the Vestry when the results of the inquests were made known. I have purposely adopted
this form of detailing the inquests in order that opportunity may be given to any inquiring
mind of judging the times of the year during which inquests most frequently occur. A
certain month is usually credited with being that in which English people "hang and drown
themselves." Is this really so?
Zymotic Diseases.
During this year, the number of deaths from these complaints has amounted to the
large total of 125. As compared with the four preceding years, the increase is very
marked. The increase in infantile mortality is the cause of this. Three diseases, entirely
confined to young children, viz.—Infantile Diarrhœa, Measles complicated with lung
mischief, and Whooping Cough terminating in convulsions, or wasting from inability to
retain food in the stomach, are responsible for above eighty-two per cent. of the entire
number of deaths from Zymosis.