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7
The net gain in life saved during the year was represented by 1263 lives.
In other words, had the average death rate of 1885-1894 prevailed throughout
1895, 1263 lives would have been sacrificed in addition to those which were
actually lost by death. Notwithstanding this life-saving, however, the table
shows excessive mortality under headings which have shown considerable
excess for many successive years past. Thus, for example, there was an
excess of 1361 deaths attributed to influenza, 611 to diphtheria, 391 to
cancer, and 241 to premature birth. In addition to these, there was also in
1895, an excess under the heads of accident and suicide, as compared with
the corrected averages.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
During the half year, the number of deaths from the principal zymotic
diseases was 63, the rate being 3.9 per 1000. The corresponding rate for
London was 3.5. For the whole year the number was 90, and the rates 2.8
and 26 respectively.

PHTHISIS OR CONSUMPTION.
The number of deaths from phthisis during the year was 98 (last half year,
49), which is equivalent to a death-rate of 3 per 1000. The corresponding
rate for London was 177 per 1000.
Phthisis, tuberculosis of the lungs, "consumption," or "decline," as it is
popularly called, is caused by the tubercle bacillus, a microscopic organism.
Many other diseases are caused by this bacillus, and are included amongst
tubercular diseases, such as consumption of the bowels, or tabes mesenlerica,
which is very frequent in children; diseases of the brain, as tubercular
meningitis ; tubeicular diseases of glands, banes, and joints, which frequently
cause abscesses and deformities.