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29
SUMMARY OF MORTAL STATISTICS.
We have already seen that the death-rate in 1896 (16.7
per 1,000) was 0.5 per 1,000 above the rate in 1895 (16.2) and
0.1 below the decennial average rate (16.8). There were, as
usual, considerable fluctuations in the rate at different periods
of the year; the rate ranging between the minimum (12.2) in
the tenth four-weekly period ended October 3rd, and the maximum
(19-8 per 1,000) in the fifth four-weekly period ended
May 16th. On eight occasions the four-weekly rate was above
the annual average rate. The minimum and maximum rates
in 1895 were 119 in the sixth four-weekly period, and 322 in
the third four-weekly period. The deaths from all causes in
the first half of 1896 were 1,485, those in the second half of
the year 1,406; no material difference. On the other hand, the
deaths from the principal diseases of the zymotic class were
far more numerous in the first half of the year (290) than in the
second half of the year (170). The total deaths from these
causes (460) were 138 more than in 1895, and 115 above the
decennial average also. The deaths from the diseases of the
respiratory organs (504 after correction for the 53rd week)
were 70 fewer than in 1895.
In the table on page 30 will be found a summary of the
principal vital and mortal statistics, arranged in four-weekly
periods, the maxima and minima being indicated by special
type.