M 152
These high figures make up about 10% of the total deaths and represent violent deaths, uncertified deaths, and a very large proportion of abandoned or 'dumped' bodies.
Infants provide the majority of the 'dumped', and, although this dangerous and revolting practice is hard to eradicate, it undoubtedly needs early and serious attention from both a Civic and a Public Health point of view.
When dead bodies, (cases of infectious disease often), have to be collected daily, like refuse, from the streets of a civilised town, it is surely time for drastic action.
Table II on page 63, is a short list of causes of death, showing details of incidence, by Communities and Districts, for the year 1928, and, for comparison, the same totals for the previous year.
Apart from the various totals in Table II and their variations from the previous year, the chief point of interest is the large number of deaths occurring in certain districts of the Colony.
From the present Table it will be seen that No. 9 District, in the City of Victoria, heads the regional list with 8,388 deaths. This is far ahead of the other districts on the island and only approached by Nos. 1 and 14 Districts.
This marked preponderance is partly accounted for by the presence, in these districts, of Mission Hospitals where so many dead or dying infants are deposited.
The French Catholic Hospital, in No. 1 district, certainly explains the high figures there, but No. 9 District is also the most populous and poorest area. 'Dumping' is by no means the only factor in this case. It is from this area of overcrowded, airless slums that most of the disease comes and in which the mortality is naturally high.
The narrow, dusty streets, encumbered with stalls and hawkers; the dark, tunnel-like houses with practically no open space; and the grossly overcrowded families, in cubicles and bunks amid a confusion of miscellaneous trades, may be entertaining to the tourist but they are an outrage to Public Health.
If this is Civilisation, these poor people would be better in the primitive but scattered huts on the hillsides. As a matter of fact, the lists show a low percentage of infection, disease and deaths in the more rural districts.
M 152
These high figures make up about 10% of the total deaths and represent violent deaths; uncertified deaths, and a very large proportion of abandoned or 'dumped bodies.
Infants provide the majority of the 'dumped', and, although this dangerous and revolting practice is hard to eradicate, it undoubtedly needs early and serious attention from both a Civic and a Public Health point of view.
When dead bodies, (cases of infectious disease often), have to be collected daily, like refuse, from the streets of a civilised town, it is surely time for drastic action.
Table II on page 63, is a short list of causes of death, showing details of incidence, by Communities and Dis- tricts, for the year 1928, and, for comparison, the same totals for the previous year.
Apart from the various totals in Table II and their variations from the previous year, the chief point of interest is the large number of deaths occurring in certain districts of the Colony.
From the present Table it will be seen that No. 9 District, in the City of Victoria, heads the regional list with 8,388 deaths. This is far ahead of the other districts on the island and only approached by Nos. 1 and 14 Districts.
This marked preponderance is partly accounted for by the presence, in these districts, of Mission Hospitals where so The French
many dead or dying infants are deposited.
Catholic Hospital, in No. I district, certainly explains the high figures there, but No. 9 District is also the most populous and poorest area. 'Dumping' is by no means the only factor in this case. It is from this area of overcrowded, airless slums that most of the disease comes and in which the mortality is naturally high.
The narrow,
narrow, dusty streets, encumbered with stalls an i hawkers; the dark, tunnel-like houses with practically no open space; and the grossly overcrowded families, in cubicles ar. bunks amid a confusion of miscellaneous trades, may i entertaining to the tourist but they are an outrage to Pul Health.
A-
If this is Civilisation, these poor people would be r better in the primitive but scattered huts on the hillsides. a matter of fact, the lists show a low percentage of infection. disease and deaths in the more rural districts.
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