View report page

81
On reference to the Table it will be seen that Class
1, the Zymotic (which includes epidemic or contagious
diseases) occupies the first position in the order of
fatality, forming nearly a fifth part of all deaths (19.85
per cent.). The deaths in this class exceeded the
average, corrected for increase of population, by 35 per
cent. Next in order, and almost equal in number, is
Class 3 (Diseases of the Brain and Nerves), but, as 84
per cent. of the total deaths from these diseases
occurred in the County Lunatic Asylum, it is evident
for the same reasons as those referred to in connection
with the disturbance of the death-rate, that this class
must be excluded from consideration in estimating the
relative proportion borne by the several classes in the
causation of the mortality proper to this parish. The
next most fatal class was No. 5 (Diseases of the Respiratory
Organs) which formed 16 per cent. of all deaths,
and exceeded the average by 6 per cent. Upwards of
four-fifths of the deaths from this class were contributed
by Bronchitis alone, which was extensively prevalent
and unusually fatal and was the most fatal single disease.
Class 2 (the Tubercular, which includes Scrofula and
Consumption) was the next most fatal, constituting 12.5
per cent. of all deaths, and was somewhat under the
average; of this number, Consumption contributed
nearly two-thirds Class 4 (Diseases of the Heart), and
Class 6 (Diseases of Digestive Organs) were of equal
number during the past and preceding years and formed
a little over 5 per cent. Class 11 (Premature Birth, &c.)
and Class 13 (Age) which were of equal amount formed
a little under 5 per cent. Class 7 (Diseases of the
Urinary Organs) was nearly three times the average
amount. Classes Age and Violence were each 4 in
excess of the average The other classes present no
deviation from their respective averages of sufficient
importance to claim attention, the most prominent
feature in the Table being, as is unfortunately too often
the case, the great numerical preponderance of diseases
of the zymotic class.