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53
1907
MORTALITY FROM THE SEVEN PRINCIPAL EPIDEMIC
DISEASES.
Small Pox, Measles, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Fevers
(that is to say Typhus, Enteric, and Continued), and Diarrhœal Diseases.
Deaths.—In his annual report for 1906 the Medical Officer of Health
was able to express his satisfaction at the low mortality for the year. He is
now able to repeat it, and to congratulate the Borough Council on the fact that
the return of 432 is not only below the corrected average of the preceding
ten years by as many as 225 deaths, but that it is also the lowest return within
that period, and indeed since, and including, 1885.
Deathrate.—These 432 deaths represent a mortality rate of 1.24 per
1,000 inhabitants, as compared with a mean rate of 1.89 per 1,000 in the
decennium 1897.1906, during which the lowest epidemic death.rate chronicled
was 1.39 per 1,000, in 1903.
The mortality from these diseases for some years past has exhibited a
general tendency to decrease, especially since 1896, from which year
to now it has fallen almost steadily, although there have been same
slight fluctuations, which, however, only accentuate the general declination.
These statements are based on the figures set out in Table XXX, which shows
the mortality from each of those diseases from 1885 to the end of 1907. A
strong feature of the present returns is that the decrease in the mortality, as
compared with the decennial averages, is not confined to any one, two, or more
diseases, but is common to all. Thus Small Pox shows a decrease of 6,
Measles 35, Scarlet Fever 12, Diphtheria 43, Whooping Cough 9, Enteric Fever
22, Simple Continued Fever 1, and Diarrhoeal diseases 97.