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37
Zymotic Diseases.—Six deaths only, due to Epidemic
diseases above the number recorded in 1868, appear to
have taken place in this Sub-district; during the past
year Scarlatina and Croup seem to have been the most
fatal maladies of the year. Diphtheria, Whooping Cough,
and Diarrhoea resulted in death in fewer instances
in the past year than in the preceding one, and Small Pox,
to which one death was due in 1868, claimed no victims in
the past year, neither were there any cases treated by the
Union Medical Officers. Whether this satisfactory result
is due to the increased vigilance exercised in carrying out
the provisions of the new Vaccination Act, I can scarcely
determine, but it would appear so, judging from what has
been known of the prevalence and fatality of this disease
in some former years. The working of the Act, I submit,
is not quite so satisfactory as it might be made by further
legislative interference. The appointment of a public
prosecutor in connexion with this measure still appears the
great desideratum in order to render the Act what it
professes to be, a compulsory one.
Other diseases and their resulting deaths. — The deaths
due to diseases other than Zymotic, registered during the
past year, were considerably in excess of the number
recorded in the mortality table of the previous Report.
This is particularly observable under the headings of
Respiratory Organs, Digestive Organs, Violence, and
Premature Birth, &c., but under those of Tubercular
Diseases, Diseases of the Brain and Nerves, and Old Age,
there is a record of fewer deaths in the aggregate than in
the previous year. Of the deaths due to Tubercular
diseases, it may be stated that Pulmonary Consumption
or Phthisis, contributed to the register of the year as
many as 15.
Ages at death.—Exactly the same number of persons,
viz.—10, has been recorded in the present table as in
that of the preceding Report, as having died of old age or
natural decay, the oldest (the widow of a carman) being