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proving fatal to 87 persons, last year destroyed only 23 persons; 90
persons, all children, died of Measles; 73 of Scarlatina, against 185 in
1859; 118 of Whooping-Cough; 94 of Fever, this number however, including
13 Fever cases dying in St. Luke's Workhouse, in 1859, 108
persons died of Fever; Erysipelas was fatal to 18 persons; ChildbedFever
destroyed 7 persons; Diarrhoea was assigned as the cause of death
in 76 cases, against 194 in 1859; and 21 deaths are ascribed to Diphtheria.
These comprise all the deaths that can properly be attributed to
epidemic or zymotic diseases, and which are held to be more especially
connected with defective sanitary conditions. If we cast up all the deaths
from this class of diseases for the purpose of comparing the year 1860
with preceding years, we find a total of 523 deaths in 1860, 756 in 1859,
821 in 1858, here again is a diminishing rate of mortality from preventive
diseases, coming to confirm the conclusion drawn from the comparison
of the gross mortality in successive years.
Passing on to other diseases, and taking them in the order of their
destructiveness, we first find Phthisis or lung-consumption, which carried
off 347 persons, or 13 per cent. of all who died; next in the fatal list
stands Bronchitis, which killed 341 persons, and if to this be added 263
deaths from Pneumonia, we obtain 604 deaths from lung-inflammations.
In no previous year has the mortality from this cause risen so high. The
figures for the last six years run as follows, 445, 426, 478, 508, 395, 604.
The increase is therefore remarkable. It is scarcely necessary to remind
you that it is attributable to the extraordinary severity and duration of
the cold last year. This cause continued to operate severely during the
first quarter of 1861, as may be seen by comparing the mortality of the
several quarters in Table II. It is consolatory to observe that notwithstanding
this excessive mortality from a cause which can only be partially
mitigated by hygienic precautions, it was still insufficient to neutralise
the large gain achieved by the diminution of zymotic diseases. BrainDiseases,
including Apoplexy, destroyed 307 persons; to these may be
added 133 deaths from Convulsions, all of these deaths being in children.
The term "Convulsions" is often used indefinitely, and no doubt frequently
covers some other cause. Scrofulous diseases cut off 151
persons. 143 deaths are vaguely attributed to Atrophy and Debility.
Old Age was the end attained by 113 persons. 108 died of Heartdiseases.
86 persons died of various forms of violence, namely, of which