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21
This table shows amongst other things, the great variations
in the number of deaths from small-pox, during the 11 years
1876-86, the smallest number recorded having been 1 in 1886,
(really none, as before mentioned, belonging to this district),
and the highest, 225 and 210 in the two years 1881 and 1884
respectively. In 1879, it will be noticed that the number was
very small, viz., 10; in 1882, only 13, in each case, preceding
by one clear year, the outbreaks of 1881 and 1884. If the same
should hold good, we may, as I have already mentioned, expect
an outbreak in 1888, but as this rule did not obtain before the
Small-pox Hospital at Homerton was used in 1871, I do not
make any forecast, as the hospital is not again to be opened for
the treatment of this disease. The mean for the 10 years was
99, against 15 for 1861-70.
Measles produced a large number of deaths, viz., 88, the
average for the 10 years preceding, having been 77, the proportion
of deaths to 1,000 deaths from all causes, having been 23.8.
The smallest number of deaths in the 10 years, was 15 in 1876,
and the highest, 168 in 1885, so that as we have had an excessive
mortality in 1885 and in 1886, we may expect a considerable
reduction in the number of deaths from this disease in 1887.
The number of deaths from Scarlet Fever was below the mean
of the 10 years 1876-85, having been 70 against a mean.of 81,
but, as before mentioned, there was a large number of cases,
although a by no means large mortality. The highest mortality
occurred in 1878, and in 1881-2, so that it is to be hoped that
this epidemic has passed away for the present. Diptheria, on the
other hand, caused a large number of deaths, having been,
unlike scarlet fever, unusually fatal, the mortality having reached
46, against a mean of 28 for the 10 preceding years. The
number of deaths from diptheria varied but little in each of the
years, 1882-6, as it was 51 in 1882; 43 in 1883 ; 39 in 1884 ;
47 in 1885; and 46 in 1886. The proportion of deaths from
this disease, to deaths from all causes, was 12.4 in 1886, and 8.1