View report page

19
Ages at Death.
The deaths during infancy, as is usually the case,
were very numerous. Of the 504 deaths, 158 occurred
in children under five years of age. This mortality
might be very much mitigated if during infancy
children were better cared for. Amongst the poor
they are much neglected, badly clothed, many sleeping
in one room, and during early infancy their supply of
nourishment is scanty in quantity and poor in quality.
If the infant is suckled by the mother, she is frequently
away during the day for many hours earning her
livelihood, consequently her offspring must be neglected.
On the other hand, when an infant is brought up by
hand, the food is rarely prepared with that care that is
necessary for the wellbeing of an infant, hence many
fall easy victims to disease during early childhood.
34 deaths occurred in persons between the ages of 5
and 20 years, 97 between 20 and 40 years, 142 between
40 and 60 years, 66 between 60 and 80 years, and 7
between 80 and 90 years.
Causes of Death.
Zymotic Diseases.— The deaths from this class of
disease will compare favourably with those of the
previous year (1871). In the year 1871 the deaths
were 86, whereas in the year 1872 they were 56, being
a reduction of 30.
c 2