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21
There were 400 deaths from Small Pox, 25 from Measles,
which is the smallest number since 1867, indeed after allowing
for increase of population, it is the smallest number recorded
since 1859. It is therefore likely to be epidemic in 1872-78.
The fatality of Scarlet Fever was much less than in 1869 and
1870, but was still high, so that it is likely to be comparatively
small during this and the following year. Whooping Cough
has 76 deaths placed to its account, which is rather above the
average, and as the excessive mortality was chiefly registered in
the autumn, it is probable that it will remain high to the end
of the year. The mortality from Fever was very small indeed,
especially when we consider that all our deaths from this cause
were included in our returns.
There is one other matter to which I must draw your especial
attention, viz., the large number of deaths from Diarrhœa,
Choleraic Diarrhoea and Cholera. The deaths from Diarrhœa
were nearly as numerous as in 1865 (the year before the Cholera
outbreak), whilst those from Cholera and Choleraic Diarrhoea
were greater than in that year. These are very important when
taken together with the steady march of Cholera from the East
Indies to Persia, thence to Austria, Prussia, and other continental
countries, and especially to Hamburg. It is also well known
that one case of the disease occurred at Hull in a sailor who
came from Hamburg. The greatest watchfulness must therefore
be exercised, both now and during the ensuing summer and
autumn. I do not expect, even if an outbreak should occur,
that it will be very severe, as the district is in a better Sanitary
condition than it was in 1866, and therefore we are better
prepared to prevent its spreading. The mortality from Diarrhcea
was however not excessive, when the great heat of August
and September is taken into consideration, because the deaths