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no account is taken Their parents neglect both to register their births,
and to have them vaccinated. In very numerous cases, the poorer
classes in London do not register the birth of a child, unless it happen
to fall ill, so that its life is in danger. This circumstance which is of far
more frequent occurrence in London, than in rural communities, vitiates
all the statistics of Vaccination, and also those relating to illegitimacy.
But it is by no means the only source of the erroneous conclusions indulged
in by closet statisticians.
The Sickness returns, of which a summary is exhibited in Table III.
show that a gross total of 6594 new cases of disease came under the
care of the four Poor-Law Surgeons during the year. Among these
were 21 cases of Small-Pox, 139 of Measles, 81 of Scarlatina, 198 of
Whooping-Cough, 69 of Erysipelas, 615 of Diarrhœa, 2 of Cholera, and
813 of fever. The books in which the Poor-Law Surgeons register the
name, address, and disease of every new pauper patient, are weekly
revised by the Medical Officer of Health. From these books a register
is made which shows the locality of every case of epidemic disease, and
which serves as an indication for sanitary improvement. By thus tracking
disease to its origin, there can be no doubt that much sickness and
many deaths are averted.
The large proportion of cases of Brain-disease that come under
treatment in the Workhouse is worthy of remark. Under this head are
included the cases of insanity. The large number of skin diseases indicates
the destitution and uncleanliness of many of the persons admitted
to the House.
200 Coroners' Inquests were registered. Of these, 35 related to cases
of infants suffocated in bed either accidentally, or through negligence,
or through criminality. In 117 cases, death was assigned to specified
natural diseases. In 46 cases, death was the result of violence inflicted
suicidally, accidentally, or homicidally. In two instances no definite
cause of death is given.
Drinking Fonntains.—The advantage to the public health of substituting
drinking-fountains supplied with pure water, for street pumps
which are liable to various sources of impurity, is gradually becoming
better understood. Many fatal diseases have of late years been traced
by the most rigorous researches of physicians and naturalists, to the use