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17
Further details of the causes of deaths will be found in the table
appended to this Report.
The mortality from Zymotic diseases, both collectively and from
those especially fatal, has been reduced considerably as shown above.
Of the 10 deaths from Small Pox, all occurred in unvaccinated
persons, except one—that of a male, age 38, who had been vaccinated
in early life, but had not been re-vaccinated; at the same time, this
death was probably accelerated by the occupation of an underground
kitchen, not habitable according to the Act. 19 cases of Small Pox
were sent to the Small Pox Hospital, but no deaths occurred among
them; in 1859, 15 cases were sent to the Hospital, and 1 death took
place.
The deaths from Typhus again exhibit a diminution, which
has been progressive during the last 5 years; the deaths registered in
the District being respectively for these years, 51, 47, 31, 31, and 27
26 cases were sent by the Guardians of the Poor to the Fever Hospital.
In 1859, 23 cases were sent to the Hospital, and of these, 6 died; of
the 26 cases sent during the past year, 5 died.
The mortality in children under 5 years of age is still enormous,
the deaths amounting to 624, not far from half the total mortality ;
some share of this mortality is unquestionably beyond the control of
the Vestry. The greatest number of deaths in children, both absolutely
and relatively, occur among the poorer classes, and arise from
want of proper care and management in regard to exercise, diet, and
free ventilation, yet protection from cold. Those from brain disease,
Convulsions, Atrophy, and Pulmonary diseases, arise mostly from an
impaired state of nutrition of the body thus produced, which renders
children unable to withstand any malady, and renders medical treatment
almost helpless. At the same time, it appears'to me, that the
dwellings of the poor are not sufficiently required by the Vestry to be
cleansed; nor is the overcrowding sufficiently interfered with; and
these are two potent causes of infantine mortality especially.
The deaths from Pulmonary disease were 328, against 229 in
1859. The extremely severe winter was quite sufficient to account
for this very considerable increase.
Tubercular diseases were not so fatal in the last year as in
1859, the numbers being respectively 253, and 269.
The deaths in the Workhouse were 137, being 17 more than
in 1859.
The accidental deaths were 22, against 18 in 1859; 7 arose
from "accidental suffocation," 3 from burns and scalds, and 9 from
fractures and contusions.
Four infants were murdered, the number in 1859 being 5.
9 deaths arose from suicide, against 8 in the preceding year.
The deaths from intemperance were 5, against 6 in 1858;
although this by no means represents the true number directly and
indirectly arising from that cause.