View report page

58
1888-92, the annual average was 54, three epidemic
years being included therein, while in the quinquennium
1893-97 there were three non-epidemic years,
and the annual average was 46.
In examining the records for the past thirty years,
it has been noted that in the earlier years (up to about
1890) the disease maintained a much more uniformly
high level, the differences between epidemic and nonepidemic
years being nothing like so marked, and the
epidemics not recurring so regularly each alternate
year.
If the annual average number of deaths be determined
for each of the three decennia between 1868
and 1897, and if those years in which the actual
number of deaths exceeded the corresponding decennial
average be held to be " epidemic " years, it will
be found that there have been twelve such years
since 1868, viz., three in the first decennium, four in
the second, and five in the third. The averages for
the three groups of epidemic years were 70.0, 60.2, and
78.2 respectively, and the average for the 12 " epidemic"
years, 70.1. Last year's total (89) represents
a considerable increase on these figures, even if the
increase in the population be taken into account. It may
here be noted that a fatal termination to this disease is
exceedingly rare at ages over 15, and hence in the tabulated
statement (seep. 55) the numbers of individuals
enumerated at ages under 15 years have alone been