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20
from Lung diseases in that month at least must also be
included in the account; and there is much reason to
suspect that a very large number of deaths under other
headings should also be similarly included; inasmuch as
otherwise inexplicable rises occurred under them Thus
the mortality from Phthisis suddenly shot up in the first
week of January, and remained far above the average for
ten weeks in succession, although the death-rate from this
disease in London had been declining for years past, and
was below the average in almost every week of 1890,
excepting these first ten. A similarly sudden increase
occurred among deaths from diseases of the organs of
circulation, which during the month of January were as
much as 55 per cent. above the usual January average, and
although it is true that the mortality from this group of
diseases has long been increasing, the suddenness and the
extent of the increase in January was far in excess
of this gradual rise. In short it would probably
not be far from the truth if the whole increase of mortality
from all causes in the aggregate during the mild month
of January were attributed to Influenza ; in which case
that disease would have to be credited with having caused
2,258 deaths in London, in the first four weeks of the year
alone."
Notification of cases of Infectious Diseases.