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16
had the effect of steadily and continuously reducing the
death-rate. During the third quarter of the last century there
was a decided improvement, but this was followed by a
serious rise towards the end of the century.
The following table gives the annual number of deaths in
Acton per 100,000 inhabitants, in quinquennial periods for the
25 years 1886—1906.
1882—1886
1887—1891
1892—1896
1897—1901
1902—1906
32.6
66.6
50.2
13.6
29

From the year 1881 to 1902, the difference between
epidemic and interepidemic periods was most marked.
The major epidemic years were as follows—
1885, with a Death-rate of 120 per 100,000
1889, with a Death-rate of 115 per 100,000
1892, with a Death-rate of 98 per 100,000
1896, with a Death-rate of 80 per 100,000
1902, with a Death-rate of 78 per 100,000
Since 1902 the death-rate has not in any year reached 75
per 100,000 inhabitants.
But whereas the peak observed in epidemic years has
become flattened, the trough in interepidemic years has
become raised, so that the actual number of victims to the
disease has not diminished. Following the major epidemic
year of 1885, in 1886 the death-rate was only 10 per 100,000;
there was a minor epidemic in 1887, and in 1888 there was no
death from Measles.
Following the epidemics of 1892 and 1902, there was no
death from the disease in 1893 and 1903. There was a minor
epidemic in 1900, followed by complete immunity in 1901,
and preceded by a similar state of affairs in 1899.