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15
membranous croup reported in the Metropolis, which,
taken in conjunction with the increase in the cases of
diphtheria reported, indicates a change in practice of
using the former term. Membranous croup is generally
held as synonymous with diphtheria, and the
Asylums Board will not admit cases of "membranous
croup" unless the certificate bears the additional
qualification "of diphtheric origin" or "nature."
There has been a steady increase in the proportion of
cases of diphtheria admitted to the Board's hospitals,
and it does not appear improbable that a wish to
secure admission to these hospitals has affected the
practice of naming the disease.
Having regard to the intimate relations between
this and the adjoining districts, it will be useful to
consider what amount of infectious disease prevailed
in the latter during the year. For this purpose Table
7 has been got out, the figures being taken from
the returns of the Local Government and the Metropolitan
Asylums Boards, and the rates for Puddington
specially re-calculated for this table, on the population
as estimated by the Registrar-General, to secure
uniformity of rates.
If the districts be arranged in order of rates,
beginning with the highest (and worst) rate in each
case, Paddington will come third on the list in respect
of diphtheria and membranous croup, Willesden being