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In regard to the other Zymotic diseases, we have every
reason to be satisfied. Those diseases which we have
more directly under our control by attention to the
sanitary condition of dwelling houses—such as Diphtheria
and Enteric Fever, were much less prevalent than during
the previous year. They may be said to have practically
died out. Only 2 deaths were registered as due to these
diseases as opposed to 8 during 1885.
The other classes of disease bear very much the same
proportion to each other as before. The diseases of the
tubercular and respiratory systems still claim their large
share of victims.
It appears to me the statistics given in Table II.
reveal a condition of public health, on which the
sanitary authorities have every reason to congratulate
themselves. For the last three years the death-rate in
this locality has shown a most marked and continued
decrease. To my mind this is directly traceable to the
sanitary precautions observed and sanitary measures
regularly and systematically carried out. During the
same period with this markedly diminished death-rate there
has been a great increase in the density of the population
with its attendant disadvantages from a sanitary point of
view. Increased density of population taken by itself has,
invariably an injurious influence on the public health.