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70
On these Tables, Mr. Murphy remarks:—
Tables V. (a) and (b) (here Tables 19 and 20), serve to bring
out conspicuously the following facts :—
1. That antecedent to 1871-80, in groups of population where
the diphtheria death rate at all ages was rising, the rate at ages
3-10 years, though generally rising also, rose in a less degree than
the all-age rate; and that when the all-age rate was falling, the
rate at ages 3-10 years fell in greater degree than the all-age rate.
2. That in 1871-80, with a general decline of the Diphtheria
mortality at all ages, in the several groups of population, there
occurred in each group at ages 3-10 years a relatively higher
Diphtheria death-rate than before; that is, the Diphtheria mortality
at ages 3-10 years did not fall in 1871-80 in anything like
the same degree as the Diphtheria mortality at all ages.
It will be noted that in the incomplete comparisons
for the two last groups of years, this
increased incidence of mortality is maintained.
Further, in former years, the mortality from this
disease was greater among females than among
males, the difference being specially marked at the
school-ages of life, but that difference of incidence
is now disappearing. The Elementary Education
Act was passed in 1870, and since that date there
has been a greatly increased attendance enforced
on the children, accompanied by, as the figures
given show, an enhanced death-rate from this
disease, falling more equally on both sexes at what
may be called the school-ages of life.
It may here be remarked that the connection
between school attendance and the spread of Diphtheria
has been pointed out by many observers, but