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10
Influenza.—This highly infectious disease appears to have taken a
permanent place in our mortality tables. The deaths attributed to this
cause were 18, or one less than for the preceding year. The majority of
cases occurred in the early months of the year, and affected subjects of
all ages. After disappearing from the parish during the summer
months, as early as October a further death was registered from this
cause, and in the month of December this pest again became prevalent
and continued its ravages during the winter quarter.
There is no doubt that many deaths attributed to Pneumonia and
other Chest diseases date their origin from an attack of Influenza.
Local Diseases.—Diseases of the respiratory organs caused 119
deaths, of which 83 were attributed to Bronchitis, 31 to Pneumonia, and
five to other forms of disease. Diseases of the nervous system caused
102 deaths, 48 of which were due to Apoplexy, 17 to Paralysis, 18 to
Convulsions, and 5 to Epilepsy and Insanity. Eighty-seven persons
died from diseases of the Heart, 50 from diseases of the digestive
organs, 11 of which were due to Enteritis, 9 to Peritonitis, and 13 to
diseases of the Liver. The deaths from diseases of the Urinary System
were 36, of which 22 were due to Nephritis and Bright's Disease, and
7 to Diabetes.
The deaths from the accidents and diseases of Child Birth
were 4, of which one was referred to Puerperal Fever.
Developmental diseases include 31 deaths of infants from premature
birth, and 9 from malformations; 35 deaths were referred to Atrophy
and Debility, and 41 to Old Age.
Constitutional Diseases.—The deaths from Cancer were 69, and show
a rise of 7 on the preceding year. Rheumatism and Gout caused 8
deaths, whilst different forms of Tuberculous diseases caused 85 deaths,
of which 54 were attributed to Consumption.
It has now come to be recognized that Consumption and
other forms of Tubercular disease are to a great extent preventible
diseases. The subject has been very prominently brought before
the public during the past year by the formation of the " National