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26
Zymotic Diseases.—Of the 429 deaths registered as
having resulted from Zymotic diseases, considerably more
than one-half, viz., 239, were due to Scarlet Fever, being a
larger number than was registered in 1869 by 187. The
deaths from Measles and Fever were also in excess. The
numbers placed opposite the other diseases of this class do
not present any material difference, if we except Whooping
Cough, to which malady 21 deaths were attributed, against
52 in the preceding year. The deaths due to Small Pox
were 9, which is less by 2 than were registered in 1869.
It should be here stated that the present year, 1871, promises
to be one of great mortality from this deplorable
disease. During the single month of May (the time at
which the statistics for this Report were being collected)
there had taken place as many as 50 deaths from Small
Pox ; from January to April there had also been registered
the large number of 80 deaths from the same disease,
making, in five months of the present year, a total of 113.
I very much regret to state that, of the 9 deaths from Small
Pox registered in the past year, 5 had received no protection
whatever from vaccination.
Ordinary diseases and their resulting deaths.—Opposite
Class 2 (Tubercular diseases) will be found a much larger
number of deaths noted than in 1869, in the proportion of
224 to 183. Of these 224 deaths, Phthisis is found to
have claimed 109 victims; diseases of the Respiratory
Organs were fatal in 218 cases, which is only 2 more than
in the previous year; the large number of 198 died of
Affections of the Brain and Nerves, which is 43 more than
in the previous year. The deaths from Premature Birth,
Low Vitality, &c., slightly exceeded those of 1869, whilst
to Old Age and to Violence, 56 and 29 deaths were respectively
referred, the numbers being in the two past years
nearly equal.
Ages at death, Infant Mortality.—The fatal cases among
infants and young children, I regret to say, have increased.