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54
8 deaths took place in the House of Correction; 6 in the
House of Detention.
41 deaths arose from violence; the number for 1880 being 38.
The numbers for the last four years were 40, 43, 38, and 41, so
that the number for this year is the average. But when it is
recollected that these deaths arise from accident, negligence, and
suicide, and immediately from fractures and contusions, cuts,
burns and scalds (want of fire-guards), over-lying and suffocation
of infants in bed, children hanging behind vehicles and being
run over, it is evident that they are mostly preventible and could
be considerably reduced by ordinary care; and it must be
remembered that many cases also occur which are not fatal.
Hence the mortality of the year has been considerably below
the average. It amounted to 18 per 1,000; if the persons
dying in hospitals, &c., be added, the mortality would amount
to 19 per 1,000.
In 20 large English towns, the mortality in 1881 was:—
London, 21.2; Brighton, 19; Portsmouth, 19.7; Norwich, 19.5;
Plymouth, 19.9; Bristol, 19.6; Wolverhampton, 21.2; Birmingham,
20; Leicester, 21.8; Nottingham, 22.4; Liverpool, 25.7;
Manchester, 25.5; Salford, 22.6; Oldham, 22.8; Bradford,
19.7; Leeds, 21.6; Sheffield, 21.1; Hull, 23.8; Sunderland,
21.0; and Newcastle-on-Tyne, 21.8.
The mortality in all London was 21.2; that of the West
districts, 19.5; of the North districts, 20.6; of the Central
districts, 23; of the East districts, 24.2; and of the South
districts, 20.4.
The mortality of the year 1881, has thus been below the
average; and in fact, below that of any year since the foundation
of the Vestry. And the so recently taken Census assures us
that this does not arise from a diminution of the population,
which was found to have decidedly increased.