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68
is, however, good reason to believe that neglect and
ignorance are the most effective factors in causing the
comparatively high mortality.

The deaths from this disease were one fewer than
n 1897, 3 fewer than in 1896, and 8 below the
corrected decennial average. In comparison with the
quinquennial averages, last year's total was 5 above
that average for 1888-92, and 20 below that for
1893-97. The fatality last year (24.8) was higher
than that of 1897 (29.1), but below that for 1896
(27.6). Higher totals were recorded in 1888
(75), 1892 (92), 1893 (69), and 1896 (67). It is
worthy of note that, with the exception of 1893,
epidemics of measles took place in the years mentioned,
and further that during the past year there were
several fatal cases almost immediately after the height
of the measles epidemic, many of the deceased having
just previously had attacks of the latter disease.
Last year's mortality was 0.05 per 1,000 below the
mean rate.
According to the rates given in Table 18, the
mortality during 1898 from this disease (0.48) in
Paddington, was double that of "England and Wales"
(0.24), and higher thau any of the other rates. In