( XIV ) 



STATE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH. 



Is^ Quarter, — 157,449 births and 98,260 deaths were registered ; 

 consequently the natural increase of the population in the 92 days 

 was 59,189, or 643 daily in England. The probable natural increase 

 of population in the United Kingdom was 964 daily. The mortality 

 was at the rate of 1-994 per cent, annually, or -146 below the 

 average. The average rate of the season exceeds 21 ; the actual 

 rate of this quarter was less than 20 in 1000. The reduced mor- 

 tality is, no doubt, to some extent due to sanitary^ improvements. 

 During the summer the annual rate of mortality in the population 

 of the country, of villages and small towns, was at the rate of 17 in 

 1000, the aveiage rate being 18 ; and in the same time the town 

 population died off at the annual rate of 24 in 1000, the average 

 being 26. If the mortality had been at the standard rate, deduced 

 from sixty-three of the least unhealthy districts, the deaths would 

 have amounted to 73,088 instead of 98,260 ; conseqviently the deaths 

 in excess of the comparatively healthy average, or the unnatural 

 deaths, amounted to 25,172 ; of which 20,146 happened in the large 

 towns, and 5026 in the small towns and villages. Diphtheria, often 

 called " throat disease," and typhoid fever have been prevalent in 

 some districts. 



2iid Quarter. — 158,007 births and 118,663 deaths were registered, so 

 that the natural increase of the population in England was 39,344, or 

 428 souls daily. The probable natural increase of population of the 

 United Kingdom was 642 daily. The mortality was at the annual 

 rate of 2-402 per cent., or rather more than 24 in 1000. The 

 mortality of the quarter in town districts was at the rate of 28 in 

 1000 living; in country districts at the rate of 21 in 1000 living. 

 Upon taking the four quarters, of which the returns are now com- 

 plete, the result is that the deaths of 450,018 persons were regis- 

 tered in the year 1858, and the annual mortality was at the rate of 

 23 in 1000 ; in town districts the annual rate was 25 or more ; in 

 country districts 21 in 1000 died. At the rates of comparatively 

 healthy districts, the deaths in the j-ear should not have exceeded 

 321,009; the actual deaths .amounted to 450,018. This excess of 

 129,009 deaths is due chiefly to the fatal neglect of the sanitary ar- 

 rangements which are requii-ed in every district, and are indis- 

 pensable in densely-peopled cities. These 129,009 deaths may 

 be called unnatural deaths, of which about 83,431 happened in the 

 largo town districts, and 45,578 in the rest of the kingdom. This 

 is a sad reckoning; but it is an under-statement of the facts. 



