View report page

REPORT.
July, 1868.
Gentlemen,—
It is with infinite pleasure I have to report that there has been a
great diminution in the rate of Mortality in this District during the past
year. The Deaths from all causes were—3823 in 1866, against 2776 in
1867: shewing a decrease of no less than 1047. This decrease is chiefly
noticeable among the Zymotic Diseases, which were registered as
follows:—
1866. 1867.
Fever 125 88
Small Pox 155 65
Measles 91 46
Scarlatina 99 40
Diphtheria 12 10
Diarrhœa 182 129
Cholera 612 7
Whooping Cough 169 123
1445 508
Decrease 937
Thus we see that the Deaths were fewer in all Diseases of the Zymotic
class. This was specially marked in our dire enemy "Cholera," where
the fatal cases fell from 612 in 1866, to 7 in 1867, and even these were
not of the Asiatic type, but such as ordinarily occur in the summer
months, and should in reality have been registered "Severe Diarrhœa,"
as the term "Choleraic Diarrhœa," though often used, has a different
signification given to it by different members of the medical profession,
and no distinct and acknowledged train of symptoms is accepted by the
profession at large. The next greatest decrease was shown in Small
Pox, which fell from 155 to 65; Fever also fell from 125 to 88; Scarlatina
fell from 99 to 40; Measles fell from 91 to 46; Diphtheria from 12
to 10; Diarrhœa from 182 to 129; and Whooping Cough from 169 to