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7
Then comes the period of the year when Epidemic
Diseases usually make their appearance, and more especially
Diarrhœa. On referring to Table No. 3, it will be seen that
the Deaths from Diarrhœa and Dysentery amounted to the
large number of 84, being an increase of 78 deaths from
that disease over the preceding quarter. Chest Affections
were materially diminished during that quarter. My observations
refer more particularly to Epidemic and Chest
Diseases, because it is a positive fact, that to those diseases
must be ascribed annually nearly two-thirds of the whole
mortality of this District.
During the third quarter the Deaths from Epidemic
Diseases began to show that a serious atmospheric influence
was at work. Scarlet Fever numbered 29 deaths, Hooping
Cough 23, Typhus Fever 24, and Diphtheria 17, which is the
largest number of deaths registered as having arisen from
that disease in this District during any quarter of the year
since the disease first made its appearance in this country.
During the last quarter of the year, as will be seen on
referring to Table No. 4, the Deaths reached the large
number of 621, being 46 above the number of Deaths registered
during either of the previous quarters of the year.
This increased Death-rate was still due to Epidemic influence:
Scarlet Fever numbered 51 deaths, Hooping Cough 16
Diarrhoœ 21 (an unusual number from that disease at that
period of year and at a reduced temperature), Typhus Fever
22, Diphtheria 15, whilst Phthisis, Heart and other Chest
Affections, were again greatly on the increase, 203 having
died from those last-mentioned diseases during that period.
The Deaths from Croup, comparatively numerous, showing
13 from that disease; whilst Convulsions and other Brain
Diseases carried off 80 persons during the last quarter of the
year. It is also, perhaps, worthy of remark, that as Epidemic
Disease began to spread and exert its influence on the health
of the District, as shown in the annexed Tables, the mortality
amongst persons of advanced years was perceptibly
diminished, and as perceptibly increased at the same period
amongst the infantile population, 493 children having died