View report page

36
Of the total mortality from all causes, this class of
disease is assigned as the cause of death in rather more
than 20 per cent., or one-fifth, of the whole number.
The fatal cases of Diarrhoea occurred almost exclusively
amongst children—24 under one year of age, 6
between one and five, and the remaining case was above
80 years of age. Several of these cases were of the
Choleraic type, which, for a short period, was prevalent.
The timely supply of remedies provided under the supervision
of the Battersea Local Committee, and by the
authority of the Board, aided, to a very great extent, by
cooler weather, checked the progress of that which at one
time presented the aspect of an outbreak of Epidemic
Cholera of the severest character.
Measles was the prevalent exanthematous disease
during the year, and, as shown by the table, 23 deaths arc
recorded from this disease—three more than in the preceding
year. Scarlatina, another specific fever, accompanied
by a rash, is apparently dying out in this locality,
as the result of a highly organised system of sanitation,
but three deaths being recorded. Croup and Diphtheria,
diseases also proceeding from insufficient drainage, have
almost become extinct, but three of the former and one of
the latter being registered. Of Whooping Cough 15
deaths were registered against 29 in 1872.
The only Zymotic diseases except Measles in which
an increased mortality occurred were those incidental to
Childbirth 14 cases, or 6 more than in the previous year;
Fevers caused deaths in 5 eases more than in 1872;
Erysipelas 3 and Small Pox 2 additional deaths.
"With respect to the eight deaths which occurred from
Small Fox, the centre of contagion was clearly traced by
me to a nurse who had attended to a case of that disease
resident elsewhere than in this parish. This woman, without