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16
For the fourth year there has not been any death from small
pox in this district, and in 1886 there was only 1 death from
this most fatal and infectious disease. In 1884 as many as 210
deaths of parishioners were registered in this district, and 86 in
1885, so that the absence of this disease in an epidemic form is a
subject for congratulation. Measles, however, has proved very fatal,
as in 1890 no less than 149 deaths were registered from this disease,
the average for the 10 years being 95. The mortality occurred
chiefly in the first three and the last two months of the year,
when the cold weather prevailed. Scarlet fever, although it has
been to a certain extent epidemic this year, has not caused even
the average mortality, as there were only 55 deaths against a
mean for 10 years of 73. The disease was not attended with the
severe complications often observed, nor were there many of the
very fatal form known as "malignant scarlet fever" in which
death takes place frequently in a day or two. Diphtheria, on
the contrary, has been decidedly prevalent all over the district,
without the local outbreaks which occasionally occur. The
number of deaths in 1890 was 62, against 93 in 1889, and an
average for 10 years of 4.4. I have already referred to the
comparative rarity with which the origin of the disease can be
traced, either to personal intercourse or local causes. Whooping
cough was also very prevalent and fatal, from the same causes as
measles, viz., cold, damp weather. The unusual number of 182
deaths were registered in 1890, against a decennial average of 115,
and it has not caused so great a mortality in any one year
during the 11 years included in the table. There was not any
death from typhus. The mortality from typhoid or enteric fever
was much smaller than the average, 48, but was slightly in excess
of the number for 1888 and 1889. A rather considerable number
of cases occurred amongst residents on their return from Margate>
Southend and Yarmouth. Diarrhœa also did not' cause so many
deaths as usual, as there were only 110 against the average of 133
in 10 years, 93 in 1889, and only 78 in 1888. The mortality
from diarrhoea depends chiefly on the mean temperature of
July and August; when this is high, and the earth and water
becomes heated to 65° F. or above, then diarrhoea is both
prevalent and fatal.