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64
what appeared to be its obvious and immediate cause. In
fact we deal with a matter incapable of demonstration—the
virus or germ of disease. The subject is purely a medical one
and one of which the profession alone is able to judge.
The enquiry however resulted in serious defects being
exposed and put right, so that it had its reward in increasing
the public safety.
The table below gives the distribution of the epidemic
disease prevailing in the district during the four quarters of
the year. It is worthy of remark that the third quarter with
the highest temperature of the year, has the fewest number
of fatal cases of diseases of this class. This was mainly due
to the fact that Diphtheria had almost disappeared during
that time, there being no fatal cases during that quarter. It
is also due to the fact that Diarrhoea was less fatal than
usual, dependent chiefly on the equable temperature prevailing
during the year.
1883.
DISEASE. First Second Third Fourth
Quarter. Quarter. Quarter. Quarter.
Mean Temperature 40*0 53.0 59.5 44.9
Small Pox .. .. ..
Measles .. 1 1
Scarlatina 2 1 1 3
Diphtheria 9 9 .. 6
Whooping Cough 1 1
Diarrhœa 1 1 3
Fever 1 .. .. 1
Total 14 13 5 10
II. Constitutional and Local Diseases.
An examination of the figures presented in the following
table will lead to the conclusion that the greater mortality