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53
The foregoing diseases are known as the " Princi-
pal Zymotic Diseases," and the total deaths ascribed
to them numbered 241, equal to a death-rate of 1.90
per 1,000. In 1896, 332 deaths were recorded from
these causes, equal to a rate of 2.54. Last year's
rate for Paddington compares favourably with the
rates prevailing in the districts mentioned in Table 16.
The diseases in this group can be divided into two
groups:—
(а) Those which are notified, and to the direct
controlling of which much time and energy are
devoted; and
(б) Those which are subjected to no direct controlling
influence.
The former class includes smallpox, diphtheria,
scarlet fever, and "fever," to which diseases 92 deaths
were attributed during the year, equal to a death-rate
of 0.728 per 1.000. The remaining diseases, constituting
the second class, caused 149 deaths, equal to a
rate of 1.180. In 1896 the rates from the diseases in
each class were 0.837 and 1.706. In 1867, thirty
years ago, the rates were 0.989 and 2.093, but the
year was marked by the commencement of an epidemic
of measles, and by the absence of any considerable
amounts of dinhtheria and diarrhoea.