View report page

10
Zymotic Diseases.— Class I.— This class was a larger
one this year than last by 164 deaths, but it is less than
1876 by 30, and is only slightly in excess of the average
of the eleven years 1868-78.
There is no reason, therefore, for dissatisfaction in
regard to this most important class of disease. It
will be found also that the increase of the past year in
this class was due to epidemics of Measles and Whooping
Cough, and to an increased prevalence of Diarrhœa and
Croup. Diarrhœa and Whooping Cough were more fatal this
year than in any of the series in both cases by 23 deaths;
Measles and Croup are above the average. Small Pox
was fatal in 19 cases, a decided decrease, we are glad to
notice, from the fatality of the previous year. We find
that, of the whole eleven years, it is below the average,
but if we strike out the excessive fatality of 1871, it is
slightly above the average of the remaining 10 years. We
have still to express our regret, however, that so many
cases should remain to a fatal termination among our
population. We must regard—especially among the class
to which 13 of the 19 fatal cases belonged—each death as
a miscarriage of our sanitary efforts, and a failure of duty
on the part of the public. Amongst the lower classes the
ignorance of the commonest precautions and the obstinacy
in yielding to the most reasonable measures is something
appalling. They strive—and are assisted in the effort
often by neighbours whose own lives are in danger—to
conceal the existence of the disease from public observation,
carrying on meanwhile the ordinary business of life as if
no danger existed. When discovered, before the case
is too advanced, many refuse obstinately to be
removed to hospital, or if the case is recovering, or has
proved fatal, to have any disinfection accomplished which
puts them to the slightest inconvenience, or by which
they will sustain the most trifling loss. These facts, which
are not exaggerated, lead us to press for more summary
power in dealing with infectious disease among the lower
classes. This may be objected to as class-legislation, but
in matters of such vital importance we cannot afford to be