A large proportion of deaths form the subject of enquiry in the Coroner’s
Court. Last year the number was 172, viz., 152 in the Town sub-district
and 20 in Brompton, equal to 6.4 per cent. of the total deaths. One
hundred of the subjects of enquiry were below the age of five years, 80
being less than a year old, mostly in fact infants of a few hours, days,
or weeks. Forty-eight inquests were held on persons between the ages of
5 and 60, and 24 on persons above the age of 60. The great majority of
the deaths were due to disease. Thus of the 99 sudden deaths the causes
of death as found by _post mortem_ examination (and _post mortem_
examinations were made in 154 out of the total of 172 cases) were as
follows:—
Brain, Diseases of the 13
Apoplexy 11
Lungs, Diseases of the 24
Heart „ „ 20
Scrofula 4
Convulsions 4
Spasm of the Glottis 7
Diarrhœa 3
Diphtheria 2
Syphilis 2
Premature birth and infantile debility 3
Visceral diseases (of Liver, Kidneys, &c.) 3
“Fever” 1; Thrush 1; “Sudden” 1 3
Total 99
Various diseases were specified in other six cases in which the deaths
were not returned as “sudden.” Death was found to be caused by disease
in many of the cases in which the deceased were “found dead,” either in
bed or otherwise, viz., from
Lungs, Diseases of the 6
Heart „ „ 6
Convulsions 4
Brain, Diseases of the, 2; Apoplexy 1 3
Laryngitis 1; Spasm of the Glottis 1; Scrofula 1 3
“Found Dead,” &c. 4
Total 26