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of 171 in the deaths from respiratory diseases, and that
is the chief factor that has produced, the large total
number of deaths. The following quotation from the
Registrar-General's Annual Summary for 1890 shews
clearly the reason for attributing this excess to the
influence of Epidemic Influenza:
"For, in the first place, the enormous and sudden
increase in these deaths occurred at a time when the
ordinary cause of increased mortality from lung diseases,
namely severe cold, was conspicuously absent, the mean
temperature in January having in fact been no less than
7.1 Fahr. above the average for that month. Secondly,
the usual winter rise in the mortality from lung diseases
takes place under the heading bronchitis in a much
greater degree than under the heading pneumonia;
whereas, the reverse was the case in the first month of
1891, for, while the mortality under bronchitis rose only
64 per cent, above the January average, the mortality
under pneumonia rose 97 per cent. And, thirdly, while
the ordinary rise of mortality in cold seasons is mainly
among the very aged, the increased mortality in these
fatal months was mainly among persons between 20 and
60."
Sanitary
Legislation.
The chief Acts that came into force in 1890,
that concern the working of the Health
ment, were the Diseases Prevention Act, the Housing c
the Working Classes Act, and the Customs and Inlan
Revenue Act.
Particulars as to the working of these Acts will be
found in the various local summaries, and they have
proved themselves practically valuable.
The principal point in the first named Act that has
affected the sanitary work of this district is in the
provisions relating to disinfection; our procedure being
simplified and the work done more quickly.