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102
report for 1895 I stated that this figure was high for Plumstead,
and had only been twice exceeded since 1885. I accounted
for it then by the warm summer and consequent excessive prevalence
of summer diarrhoea, but diarrhoea was but little above
the average last year.
I see nothing to account for the high rate this year, unless it
be the prevalence of Measles and Whooping Cough ; it is
possible that many of the deaths attributed to Bronchitis and
other causes may have been really due to these fatal diseases.
7. The Infantile death-rate was only 98 in West Plumstead,
but was 145 in East Plumstead.
The adjoining table shews that the difference between East
and West Plumstead, in this respect, is much greater than it
was three years ago:—
West East
1893 132 143
1894 77 100
1895 96 146
1896 98 145
Zymotic Death-Rate.
8. The Zymotic death-rate (i.e., the number of deaths from
Small Pox, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Fever, Measles, Whooping
Cough, and Diarrhoea per 1,000 population) was 3 5,
compared with 2.0 and 2.5 in the two preceding years. Since
1885, the rate has only once been higher, that was in 1893,
when it was 3.7. In 1893, as in the past year, Measles and
Diphtheria were both very fatal.
Uncertified Deaths.
9. There were 27 uncertified deaths, giving a rate of 2 9 per