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8
I shall not trouble you with discussing in any detail the
various causes of death, all of which are duly set forth in the usual
table attached to this report. There are, however, one or two
points to which it is my duty specially to direct your attention.
First, it will be noted that the deaths from diseases of the respiratory
organs (more especially bronchitis) are far above the average—
indeed, above any as yet recorded; whilst, as a consequence, we
have also the highest recorded number of deaths from diseases of
the heart. This is as we should expect. Any interference in the
efficient aeration of the blood by morbid states of the air passages
and lungs, reacts on the heart by interfering with the supply of the
needful stimulant required for its perfect action. I need only,
however, in explanation of the excessive mortality from these
causes (which, let me add, is far above the normal increase
coincident with increase of the population), will be easily understood
by reference to the extraordinary meteorological conditions
of the year, to which I have referred in another portion of this
report.
Secondly, I desire to direct attention to the epidemics that
occurred during the year. As regards Measles, 219 deaths are
recorded; and this, so far as we have records, is unprecedented.
In 1877 there were 157 deaths from this cause; in 1873, 153
deaths; in 1866, 152 deaths; in 1871, 148 deaths; in 1868, 147
deaths; and in 1874, 134 deaths, these being the years when the
mortality from measles was excessive. All the cases, except
nine, occurred in children under 5 years of age. It is somewhat
remarkable that nearly the whole of the 119 cases of death that
occurred during the year from measles, took place between April
and August. These are the months when, perhaps, least attention
is paid to draughts and to keeping the patients sufficiently warm,
and probably it is to these causes, amongst others, the particularly
fatal character of the outbreak is to be traced.
As regards Whooping-cougli, 229 cases of death are recorded
during the year. The epidemic was severe, but was exceeded in
1878, when 296 cases were recorded, and in 1869, when 324 cases