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9
The deaths referred to the principal Zymotic diseases (exclusive
of Diarrhoea) during 1886, viz.:—396 were not only very considerably
below those of the previous year (749) but were the lowest ever
recorded in Islington.
No death from Small-Pox actually occurred in the Parish during
the year.
The number of deaths referred to Measles, fell from 289 in 1885
to 64 in 1886, and those referred to Diphtheria decreased from 138 in
1885 to 54 in 1886.
The number of deaths attributable to diseases of the Respiratory
Organs was again high, as in the previous year, the fatal cases
numbering 1,201 in 1886, 1,197 in 1885 and 978 in 1884.
The deaths from Diarrhoea were greatly in excess, having risen
from 191 in 1885 to 307 in 1886, being the greatest number on
record during the corresponding period in any previous year.
SMALL POX.
Small-pox which had ceased to be epidemic in September, 1885,
was scarcely seen amongst us during 1886, twelve cases of sickness
only having been recorded during the first seven months, not a single
case being heard of during the last five months of the year, and up to
the present time no case of sickness has come to our knowledge
during the current year. Of the 12 cases, two were fatal after their
removal to the Hospitals of the Asylums Board.
For more than twelve months therefore we have shared with the
whole of the Metropolis comparative immunity from this disease, only
22 deaths from Small-Pox having occurred of London residents during
the year, including those who died in the Metropolitan Asylums Board
Hospitals outside Registration London.
Such quietude, however, is no promise of a prolonged absence
of Small-Pox from our midst, for this sign of peace, this unusual
freedom from so dire a disease may be, and probably is, as on former
occasions only the precursor of the rising wave, which may break
unexpectedly upon us at any moment.