View report page

1910] 70
contrasted with 32 in the fourth. In 1909 the third quarter was also unusually
healthy, yet there were only 12 deaths in the fourth quarter, whereas there
were 41 in the third. Taking the records in quinquennial periods, the Medical
Officer of Health finds that from 1886 to 1890 there were 917 deaths in the
third quarters, and 105 in the fourth; in the quinquennial 1891 to 1895, 616
deaths were registered in the third quarters, and only 83 in the fourth ; in the next
period 1896 to 1900 there were 901 deaths in the third quarters and 89 in the
fourth; in the 1901 to 1905 period there were 655 deaths in the third quarters
and only 107 in the fourth. In the 1906 to 1910 there were 338 in the third
quarters and 150 in the fourth. Thus it is seen that the rule has been without
exception as regards the quinquennia that the deaths in the third quarters
considerably exceed those in the fourth.
There has, however, been one other exception besides that of last year to the
rule, viz:—in 1907, when the deaths in the third quarter numbered only
30, whereas in the fourth they were 49. The cause of this was no doubt due
to the meteorological conditions which prevailed, for the cool third quarter
was succeeded by short periods of very hot weather in the month of October.
Particulars of the disease are given in the Tables which follow:—