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60
In North Paddington, 84 deaths were registered
during 1898, 36 more than the corrected decennial
average (Table 19a), whilst in South Paddington only
5 deaths were registered, or one in excess of the
corrected average. The death-rate in the former
district was 0.89 per 1,000 last year, as compared with
a mean of 0.48, whilst in the latter, the rate for
1898 was 0.14, and the mean 0.12, thus showing the
greater mortality, either by excessive fatality or
wider prevalence of the epidemic in the former district.
Before leaving this part of the subject, it must be
noted that the mortality calculated on the deaths
registered as due to measles, does not represent the
total loss of life due to the epidemic. Many deaths
are returned under other headings, such as bronchitis
and other diseases of the lungs, tubercular diseases, &c.,
without mention of the preceding attack of measles
which was the starting point of the ultimately fatal
illness. It seems probable, moreover, that some of the
increase in the amount of diphtheria noted during the
year, was due to the epidemic of measles.
For the first time some information is available
as to the number of attacks of this disease, although
it is not included in the schedule for notification.
This information was collected from the teachers of
public elementary schools, from enquiries made on
the registration of a death, and (a few only) by
voluntary notification on the part of the parents, or