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10
The prevalence of a severe epidemic of Measles, and the
occurrence of a larger amount of Whooping-cough and
Fever than usual, cause the Zymotic class of diseases
(epidemic, endemic, contagious,) to stand foremost in
the causation of the mortality of the past year, constituting
upwards of 22½ per cent. of all deaths. Next in
order of fatality was the Tubercular class, which includes
Consumption and Scrofula, forming 16.8 per cent.; this
class exceeded by one death only diseases of the Brain and
Nervous system. Diseases of the respiratory organs (exclusive
of consumption) formed about the same as last year,
10 per cent., which is considerably below the average.
Diseases of the heart formed 6 per cent.; Consumption
was the most fatal of any individual disease, and caused
11 per cent., or upwards of 1/8th of all deaths; next to it
was Measles.
The unusual number of 11 deaths were the result of
violence; 7 of these accidental, 3 suicidal, and 1 homicidal.
Twenty inquests were held during the year. In 11
instances the cause of death was not certified by medical
testimony; in reference to which it may be well to reiterate
the observation made in my last and previous reports,
to the effect that, as in any of these cases death may have
resulted from other than natural causes, the employment
of medical investigation in all cases where the cause
of death has not been certified by a registered medical
practitioner would be extremely desirable, in order to
prevent the possibility of secret crime escaping detection,
and consequently be the means of deterring evil doers
from its perpetration.