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in one instance as " Diphtheria." With respect to Class 2, I may say, that whereas out
of 58 deaths returned as from Diphtheria there were only 2 in which the peculiar exudation
and other symptoms of the disease were ascertained, by inquiry, to have been
absent; it is probable that of the 13 not inquired into the majority, if not all of the
cases, were really instances of the true disease. At all events, I can not agree with
those who hold that the term "Diphtheria" has been loosely applied by the medical
practitioners in this parish to sore-throats of all kinds. The numbers of each Class
stand thus:—
Males.
Females.
Total.
Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
31
4
6
26
9
6
66
13
11
Total
41
39
80
By far the greater number of deaths from epidemic sore-throat have been of that
class which presented the characteristic marks of true Diphtheria. Of these the male
deaths have somewhat exceeded those of females, (see also Sect. 24), the proportion
however being brought nearly the same if the cases of Class 2 are included.
22. Age.—The ages of the 80 persons varied from 16 days to 61 years. There were
5 infants who died under 1 year; they were aged respectively 16 days, 5 weeks, 8
months, 9 months, and 9 months. It is remarkable that all these were male children.

Of course, unless numbers such as these are compared with the numbers living
at each age, no accurate conclusion can be drawn as to liability of the different ages to
fatal attacks of this epidemic. Apart from this comparison, however, the following
facts appear deducible.—1st. That the disease has been comparatively rarely fatal to
infants in their first year of life.—2nd. That it has been chiefly fatal to children under
10 years of age.—3rd. That up to 10 years of age the greater number of fatal cases
were in males; the numbers being 39 males and 28 females : that at ages above 10
years the preponderance was disproportionately on the side of the females, the
numbers being 2 males and 11 females.