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Small-pox, one of the zymotic diseases, has been omitted from the
group, as the mortality from it in the past five years has been inconsiderable,
whilst phthisis and respiratory diseases have been included.
The average population of Kensal Town for the five years 1891-5 formed
23∙8 per cent, of the average population of the whole parish, so that in
comparison with its population, Kensal Town has suffered considerably
more from whooping cough, and slightly more from scarlet fever in the
five years than the home district, but as regards all the other diseases
mentioned in Table XI. its death-rate has been lower than that of the
home district.
The compulsory notification of infectious diseases has been in
force since the beginning of 1890, so that there are figures available
for comparison for a period of 6 years. During this period the number
of cases of scarlet fever notified amongst Kensal Town parishioners has
been 21∙9 per cent, of the total scarlet fever cases notified in the parish;
the number of cases of diphtheria and membranous croup in Kensal
Town has been 21∙8 per cent, of the total; and the number of cases of
enteric fever only 130 per cent, of the total. There has, therefore, on
the average of 6 years, 1890-5, been a somewhat less prevalence of
scarlet fever and diphtheria in Kensal Town than in the home district,
and very much less prevalence of enteric fever.
As regards diphtheria and membranous croup, it is worthy of
remark that if the figures of the year 1890—the first year of compulsory
notification—are excluded, Kensal Town stands in a very much better
position. In this year (1890) the Kensal Town cases formed no less
than 43∙3 per cent, of the total cases notified in the parish, whilst the
average of the 5 years, 1891-5, is only 16 per cent. There was
certainly an exceptional prevalence of diphtheria in Kensal Town in
this year (1890), as the mortality corresponded to the notifications, the
Kensal Town deaths from diphtheria forming 43 per cent, of the total
diphtheria deaths in the parish.
In Kensal Town during the period under review there were 159
deaths of infants under one year to 1000 births, the corresponding
number in the home district being 154. The deaths of children under
5 years of age in Kensal Town formed 48∙4 per cent, of the total