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from all causes was great during the year (see Table IV.,
Appendix), but still very much under the 10 years'
average, the per-centage of the one to the other being
15.7 against 13.6 in the previous year, but against much
higher numbers in the several years between 1864 and
1872. In one of these years (1871) the per-centage was
as high as 28.8.
The tables in the Appendix, as well as those in the
several Local Summaries, will, if consulted, sufficiently
indicate the zymotic maladies that were the most
prevalent and the most fatal during the year; but it may
be remarked that Scarlatina, Measles, Diphtheria, Croup,
Whooping Cough, Erysipelas, Metria, and Diarrhoea
exhibit in the table a marked increase of deaths
over the numbers that were recorded in the pervious
year. Fevers (typhus, typhoid, and continued)
and Small-pox were the only diseases which exhibited a
decrease in the number of fatal cases. From Fever there
took place 48 deaths against 65 in the previous year, and
the mortality from Small-pox happily fell from 9 to 5, the
latter figure representing, with one exception, the smallest
number of deaths due to this disease in 10 years, from
1863 to 1872. The exception named was in the year
1868, when, singular to say, the deaths from Small-pox
were only 2, whilst the average of the 10 years is found
to have been 55, the greatest fatality occurring in 1871,
when the number of persons who succumbed to this
dreaded malady in the entire District amounted to no less
than 317! It is exceedingly satisfactory to mark the
decrease from this very large number to 5 only in the
past year, since it promises well for the ultimate success
of the efforts that are being made towards what is termed
"stamping out" the disease by a persevering enforcement
of the vaccination laws upon every class and condition of
the people, It is also most gratifying to find that at the
time of penning these introductory remarks, the Registrar-