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47
Zymotic Disease.—During the past year no epidemic
Disease has prevailed to any great extent in this district.
The principal fatal diseases of this class being Diarrhoea,
from which 32 deaths were registered, 25 of the sufferers
being under 5 years of age; Whooping Cough, 31;
Measles, 24; Diphtheria, 15; Typhus, Typhoid, and
Infantile Fever, 13; Croup, 7; Erysipelas, 6; Small Pox,
4; Scarlet Fever, 3; Metria, 2; and Carbuncle, 1, being in
all 137; a number which is small when compared with those
of last year, as will be seen by reference to the table in the
joint summary.
Other Fatal Diseases.—Tubercular disease ranks first,
with 106 deaths, of which 73 were from Phthisis. To affections
of the respiratory organs were attributed 105 deaths,
the principal of which were Bronchitis, 48; and Pneumonia,
35; Diseases of Brain and Nerves, 76; of Heart, 24;
Premature Birth and Low Vitality, 22; not specified and
of uncertain seat, 61. The deaths in relation to social
position were, in the Industrial and Labouring class 81.52
per cent.; Middle and Trading 15.67; Professional 12.19; and
Nobility and Gentry .62
Small Pox and Vaccination.—The epidemic of Small Pox
which raged with such terrible results throughout the
district in 1871, had almost ceased at the commencement
of this year, so much indeed, that only 4 deaths are recorded.
Now that the Vaccination Act has been made more stringent,
and officers appointed to see that every infant is
successfully vaccinated, and the renewal of vaccination is
becoming general at the age of puberty, at which period
the protective power of Vaccine Lymph appears to wane,
I think it will be long ere we have another such visitation
of Small Pox as took place in 1871. A word concerning
its performance. The only places where it can be efficiently
carried out are the stations appointed by the Local
Government Board, and for this reason, that a considerable
number of infants, and consequently a plentiful and choice