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8
August, 29 and 23 respectively; the Centre Ward
standing first on the list from its large population, and, as I
expect the census will inform us, the greater proportion of
children to adults;—in that Ward there were 11 in July,
12 in August. In the same week, i.e. the second in August,
there were 10 deaths from Zymotic diseases in the West
Ward; in the other wards the mortality from each causes
being comparatively low.
The variety of terms used in the medical certificates with
respect to Cholera, would indicate even in the absence of a low
return of cases of that disease that it was not epidemic.
One case in the North Ward, and one in the West, were
returned as Choleraic Diarrhoea, and in the Centre four cases
termed respectively—Cholera Asiatica,—Cholera,—Cholera
Auglica,—and Cholera Infantum, and one in the South Ward
called Cholera Sporadica. (Sporadic diseases are those which
are opposite in character to contagious disease.)
Thirteen persons are said to have died from Diphtheria,
5 in the Centre, 3 in the North, 2 in the South, 2 in the
East, and 1 in the West.
Scarlatina and Measles have both been fatal to an extent
to be lamented; no class of persons appears to have been spared
by either disease, and I am not able to suggest any mode of
prevention, except that to which I intend hereafter to allude
in this Report, viz.—the adoption of systematic visitation of
houses, upon which alone can reliance be placed to prevent
the frequent recurrence and extension of diseases of this
class. Of the former 128 deaths are registered, 53 in the
first quarter of the year, 30 in the second, 14 in the third
and 31 in the fourth.
The deaths from Measles were 39:—22 in the first quarter,
5 in the second, 7 in the third, and 5 in the fourth.
In the next Table are set forth the ages of the individuals
at the time of death; a large proportion will be noticed of
children under 5 years, which great preponderance is mainly
owing to the extent to which Scarlatina has prevailed.