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70
Zymotic Diseases.—The various epidemic diseases
under the several headings in the first class of the preceding
table caused 42 deaths, or about a sixth part of the
whole mortality. This number is in excess of former
years, and is chiefly due to measles, whooping cough,
and diarrhoea. 35 deaths arose from these three diseases,
and they occurred principally among the industrial classes.
Measles and whooping cough caused 22 deaths, and
represent a somewhat large epidemic. Diarrhoea was
fatal in 13 instances; 10 were in infants under 1 year of
age.
Small-pox was only fatal in one case, and that was
in a person quite unprotected by vaccination. The
disease was, however, present to some extent, as may be
seen by referring to Table V. in the Appendix. Five cases
occurred amongst the Union poor, two of which were
imported into the district. They were all sent into
hospital, where two ended fatally.
Scarlet Fever was fatal in two cases, diphtheria in
three, and typhoid fever in one, thus from these four
serious diseases we only have a record of seven deaths,
forming a lower total when combined than in any of the
five preceding years. The mortality from epidemic
diseases yields a percentage of 14.7 upon the number of
deaths from all causes duringf the year.