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34
Most of the facts illustrated by Table III. have been already
referred to, but in connection with what has just been said it may be
pointed out that, of 19 cases of phthisis 14 occurred in Mortlake.
I am old-fashioned enough to still believe in Dr. Buchanan's
classical researches, and think that the connection of the disease
with damp soil is undoubted.
In Table IV. the causes of, and ages at death are analysed.
One death from diphtheria occurred outside the hospital; the death
from "croup" was returned from the Richmond Infirmary.
Epidemic influenza is stated to have caused 8 deaths, and
phthisis 24. Here again it is to be noted that 15 of the 24 deaths
have to be credited to Mortlake,
Cancer accounts for 27 deaths; this disease and phthisis
making up nearly 15 per cent. of the whole. Forty-six deaths
were due to bronchitis or pneumonia, and again the record from
Mortlake is far the worst.
Table V. affords particulars of the deaths of children under
one year of age, and in this table the deaths of a few which occurred
in the infirmary or elsewhere are included.
The deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis account for 14 of the
total number, and the vague conditions included under the headings
of debility, marasmus, etc. for 5.
The Notification of Births Act, 1907, has not been
adopted in this district, and the continued improvement in the
matter of infantile mortality shews that it is perhaps hardly
necessary here.
Allusion has been already made to the circulars of the
Board of Education, but for fuller information on the bearing
of these circulars on the work in this district, the report of