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95
Causes of Death.
Zymotic Diseases.—The principal Zymotic Diseases are Smallpox,
Measles, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Typhoid
Fever, Typhus Fever, Cholera, and Diarrhoea.
The total number of deaths occurring in the Parish from the
above-named diseases was 23. This number includes those nonparishioners
who died in the Charing Cross Hospital. After deducting
these, and adding those parishioners who died in Public
Institutions outside, the mortality due to St. Martin-in-the-Fields
would be 29 for the year. (See Table 5.)
Small-pox.—No death or case of illness came under my notice.
In London 8 deaths during the year were caused by this complaint.
Measles.—Eight deaths occurred within the Parish from this
disease, and 1 of a parishioner in King's College Hospital.
Scarlet Fever.—The Metropolis was visited during the year
with a severe epidemic of this malady, which sorely tried the
machinery of the Metropolitan Asylums Board in their anxious
endeavours to provide accommodation for such a rush of cases.
On the 20th September, the Managers issued a letter to the Medical
Officers of Health to the effect—That the available accommodation
for Scarlet Fever cases at the Hospitals of the Board is temporarily
exhausted, and that until the North Eastern Hospital shall be
opened fresh cases can only be admitted as vacancies are occasioned
by discharges and deaths, and that preference be given to the
removal to the Board's Hospitals of those patients whose surroundings
and conditions of life are such that retention within their
homes would be prejudicial to themselves or to the community.
This condition of affairs in many cases caused a good deal of
anxiety, but fortunately this deadlock did not last long.
In the Parish 2 deaths occurred from this disease, and 4 of
parishioners outside, making a total of 6 to the credit of St. Martin s.
The number of cases of Scarlet Fever notified during the year
under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 181)1, was
54, against 28 of the previous year, 1891.