[Report 1896] / Medical Officer of Health, Barnard Castle Local Board U.D.C.

  • Barnard Castle (England). Local Board of Health.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1896] / Medical Officer of Health, Barnard Castle Local Board U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    BHRNHRD GflSTLE URBAN BISTRIGT GOUNGIL. ANNUAL REPORT, 1896. Gentlemen, I. It gives me the greatest pleasure to be able to announce the death-rate for the year 1896, , in the Barnard Castle Urban District, to be the lowest on record. The number of deaths amounting to 76, gives as nearly as possible, a death-rate of 17'5 per 1,000 of population, as per census 1891 ; but as 8 of this number were of persons from outside the district, the death-rate is reduced to 68 or 15'66 per 1,000. Infantile mortality on the whole shows a decrease, being 15 for the year, but of these 12 were of children under 1 year of age, this being 3 more than the preceding year. The causation of deaths among the children was as follows : — Measles Diarrhoea Bronchitis Inj uries Whooping Cough ... Other Diseases Total 1 2 1 I 1 9 15 It is a significant fact that no less than 10 out of the 15 deaths occurred in District No, 3, which comprises what one may name the “ slums ” of Barnard Castle. This calls for more than a mere passing remark, for it is just in such places as these where one may expect to meet with that deplorable ignorance, as to the rearing of infants, which is so common among the poorer classes, and to which I drew attention in my last annual report. Among people of 65 years of age and upwards, there occurred 26 deaths. The oldest persons being a male and female each 84 years ot age. Of the total number of deaths, 39 were males and 37 were females. Zymotic or infectious diseases caused two deaths only, due respectively to measles and whooping cough. Diseases of the respiratory organs caused 21 deaths, being exactly the same number as last year. Of this number, 10 were due to Phthisis, this being 6 more than in 1895, Diarrhoea caused two deaths. H eart disease caused the deaths of 5 persons, only half as many as last year. The deaths of one child and one adult were caused by injuries. Births registered during the year numbered 116. *