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14
The number of deaths occurring in the Workhouse was 140 ; the
numbers for the preceding 10 years having been 120, 137, 160, 172,
158, 167, 174, 156, 186, and 178.
21 deaths took place in Corporation Buildings; the numbers for
the preceding 2 years having been 14 and 26 respectively.
28 deaths occurred in the House of Correction; the number for
1868 being 23. 2 deaths took place in the House of Detention.
The accidental deaths were 25 ; the number for 1868 being 23.
5 of them arose from fractures and contusions; 1 from a wound; 4
from burns and scalds; 1 from poison; and 14 from suffocation (13
of these in infants).
4 deaths arose from murder in infants ; 1 from manslaughter.
9 deaths arose from suicide, viz.: 3 from wounds; 1 from poison;
and 5 from hanging.
116 inquests were held in the year, including 30 in the cases of
deaths in the prisons; being an increase of 31 over the number for
the preceding year.
The table at the end of this Report contains an enumeration of
the deaths, according to diseases and ages, in further detail.
It is evident then, that the mortality of the year has suffered a
reduction; not only generally, but especially in regard to the zymotic
diseases.
The principal disease which requires special notice is Scarlet
Fever, which has prevailed in excess during the year. It is well
known that it has lately been very prevalent in the Metropolis
generally, having caused 5803 deaths in 1869, It leaves the old
enemy—Typhus—quite in the background ; this malady having caused
only 2414 deaths in the Metropolis during the year. And the proportion
is even greater in this parish than in the Metropolis ; for our
numbers are 116 Scarlet Fever against 44 Typhus.
In the early part of the year, large numbers of hand bills were
distributed throughout the parish, explaining the principal points to
be attended to, in preventing the spread of the disease, the use of
disinfectants, &c. And as is well known, the newspapers have given
ample directions how to arrest the progress of this malady—as said—
with care and certainty But the authors of these directions are mere
dreamers, unacquainted with the habits and the dwellings of the poor,
among which this disease spreads so readily and fatally.
No doubt if the necessary requirements could be adopted, the
spread of Scarlet Fever might certainly be affected. If the first suffering
patient were isolated from others, all the clothes, secretions, &c.,
thoroughly disinfected before being removed from the room, and the
attendants equally isolated, there would not be much trouble in the
matter. But the poorer class live mostly in one or two rooms, the
other rooms being occupied by families, even on the same floor. They
will not allow the first affected to be sent away, and the remainder of