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29
Zymotic or Epidemic Diseases.—The mortality in
the Sub-district from these diseases has been identical in
numbers for the last two years, viz.:—206; but this
total is made up differently in each year, as is evidenced by
the following Table, which illustrates at a glance the
prevalent diseases of this class in either year.
1877 1876
Measles 47 20
Diarrhœa, &c. 47 60
Small Pox 28 7
Whooping Cough 26 53
Scarlatina18 34
Fevers (the various) 17 6
Croup 10 11
Metria (dis. of childbirth) 8 10
Erysipelas 4 2
Diphtheria 1 3
206 206
By this table it will be observed that Measles was
very prevalent during the year 1877, the number of fatal
cases having increased from 20 to 47. In an immense
majority of these instances some form of lung disease has
been returned as the secondary cause of death; in fact,
uncomplicated Measles is not a fatal form of disease.
Diarrhoea, on the other hand, was reduced from 60 cases in
1876, to 47 cases in 1877, which may be ascribed to the
generally moderate temperature which prevailed during
the year, more especially during the later summer months,
when this disease is usually the most fatal.
The mortality from Small Pox rose from 7 cases in
1876, to 28 cases in 1877, which may justly be denominated
a wanton waste of human life; there being no fact more
indubitably established in the science of medicine, than
that effective vaccination, which implies good and sufficient
primary vaccination, tested, and perhaps supplemented,
by re-vaccination at the age of puberty; is an absolute