The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-16 00:00:00

TABLES OF MORTALITY.

We have received from the registrar-general a return of
the mortality in the various districts of England, for the
quarter ending March 31st, 1848, from which we glean the
following facts :
In the districts of the kingdom generally, exclusive of
London, the deaths in the winters of the five years 1844-
8, were 32,494, 35,310, 31,332, 40,816, and 41,255. The
deaths in the districts of Lancashire and Cheshire in the
five winters were 11,368, 12,896, 11,928, 15,557, and
15,444, and nearly equal in the last two years to the deaths
in London, although the population was only 1,530,460 in
1841, when the population of London was 1,948,369.
Typhus, scarlatina, hooping cough, and small pox, were
epidemic in many parts of the country. The mortality of
Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, still remains
excessively high. The deaths in Birmingham were 1660;
the population was 138,187 in 1841. Birmingham has, in
its site, many advantages in a sanatory point of view;
and the occupations of the people are not insalubrious ;
but the beneficence of nature appears to be defeated by
the negligence of the authorities. Water, pure air, and a
perfect system of drainage are not provided, as they might
be, for the whole town ; and the consequence is, that
want, and the epidemics abroad, have destroyed thousands
of the lives of the inhabitants within the last two years.
The fatal effects of collecting large bodies of labourers
without adequate house accommodation have been illus-
trated in Lincoln. The Registrar of the Home Sub-dis-
trict after remarking that the deaths in the quarter were
161, adds:—
"This return shows, that within a period of 21 years, the
mortality has been doubled. The fact is accounted for by the
increase of a temporary population connected with the forma-
tion of railways, without a soil-nem increase of accommoda-
tion ; which has induced typhus and measles. There have
been 19 deaths from fever, 14 from influenza, and 27 from
consumption."
The mortality in Liverpool and Manchester is still ex-
cessively high, but not so high as in the winter of 1847.
There is a manifest improvement in Huddersfield, Hali-
fax, Bradford, and Leeds. In Sheffield and York the
mortality was higher in 1848 than in 1847.
The extent to which vaccination is neglected in some
parts of the country is deplorable, and inconceivable.
Such facts as the following are, it is to be feared, not un-
common in other districts besides East Sunderland.
"Deaths, 140: considerably above the average; C 9 morethan
in the corresponding period of last year. The increase is prin-
cipally to be attributed to the prevalence of small pox in the
district. 47 persons have died of small pox, (only one after
vaccination). Out of the 140 deaths 84 are under the years."
Here 47 persons, chiefly children, died ; and this im-
plies that some hundreds besides were injured and disfi-
gured, by a disease that may be almost altogether pre-
vented by vaccination; and which the legislature, under the
administration of the poor-law, has placed within the reach
of every poor child in the kingdom.
In St. Martin's district, of Liverpool, there has been a
great decrease of mortality, as also in Great Howard-
street, which, however, may in part be accounted for by
the removal of the fever sheds, and the dispersion of the
poor who resided in cellars. " Otherwise," the report
states, " there is no improvement in the health and clean-
liness of the inhabitants." It adds what is most import-
ant to be noted, that " Disease and filth abound more in
the upper rooms than formerly in cellars." Dale-street
and St. Thomas's district are in a healthy state. In
Mount-pleasant, the deaths have been fewer than in the
last quarter. Fever, however, has been prevalent and
fatal. In Islington there has been a largely increased
mortality, ascribed to the prevalence of pneumonia, bron-
chitis, typhus, and scarlatina. St. George's is generally
healthy. In West Derby the mortality continues above
the average, arising from typhus and scarlatina, but the
epidemics are subsiding. In Toxteth-park there is a de-
crease. The report from this district recommends that
cellars allowed to be occupied should, when vacant, be
whitewashed with hot lime, by which pestilential disease
would be much lessened.