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22
In some families the mortality from epidemic maladies
during the past year has been deplorable.
Until, however, their exciting causes are better ascertained
and understood, and until science is better able to
demonstrate and explain their true origin, it is feared the
advance towards the abolition of such diseases will be slow
and by no means so satisfactory as could be wished.
The twenty deaths from Diarrhoea alone are much to be
deplored, since they augur somewhat badly for the results
of any decided Choleraic invasion that may afflict this
Sub-district; and of the approach of Cholera, it is almost
needless to say we have of late had some very decided
warnings.
Whooping-cough, Scarlatina, and Diphtheria have also
been very fatal during the year; indeed, the same may be
said of nearly the whole of the seven epidemic diseases
named in the above table.
The total mortality from Zymotic diseases, though exceeding
that of the previous year by as many as 12 deaths,
did not, it will be observed, reach by a large number the
total of either I860 or 1863, both of which are memorable
years in respect to epidemics in this Sub-district.
There is, therefere, some hope for the future that these
diseases will gradually diminish, as the conditions under
which they usually appear are modified by the sanitary
improvements now in progress.
small-pox and vaccination.
During the year there were, as before stated, registered
the births of 707 children; of this number 307 only were by
me successfully vaccinated, 11 of them being re-vaccinations.
There were also vaccinated 36 young persons at 2 years
of age and upwards, upon whom the performance of the
operation had been deferred by their parents until Smallpox
had actually entered their own or their neighbour's
houses. Even then, in the very presence of suffering and
death, consent was given for vaccination in many cases with
the utmost reluctance. As many as 7 deaths, and between 70