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12
Although there appears in the Table of the causes of death
(No. 6), considerable variation in the numbers of deaths from
particular diseases, such variation is confined mainly to
diseases of the Zymotic class. Thus, Fever, though but little
in excess of the average, contributed 56 deaths to the list;
44 cases having been registered last year. Deaths from Small
Pox were reduced from 15 to 9; Measles, a much greater reduction—from
64 to 7. Scarlatina was more fatal than in the
previous year; last year 59 deaths were recorded, and 46
in the year before. It will be almost a waste of time to go
through the whole Table. The figures of the Table will
speak for themselves, perhaps more intelligibly than language,
especially if the Report of the former year or years are laid
open at the same time, and the figures examined and compared.
There are two or three diseases which, in the Table,
have been separated from the others,—Diarrhoea of infants,
Pneumonia, etc., and also from the same disease occurring in
adults, affections of the mucous membranes of children
having a somewhat different significance to similar symptoms
when they occur in mature age. It is necessary for me to
make this observation, otherwise the numbers might be
understood to show a great reduction in some of the most
important diseases.
To bring the statement of the mortality of this Hamlet
to that period of the year which has been fixed as the end
by the Local Management Act, I have as usual added the
Quarterly Summary of the first quarter of the present year,
such as I am in the habit of presenting to you, as part of my
ordinary Reports at the end of each quarter. For statistical