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The corresponding death-rate for the whole country in 1894
was 218 per million, as compared with an annual average of 191
per million. As regards diphtheria, therefore, the District compares
very unfavourably with England and Wales, both in its
annual average and its death-rate last year. The mortality,
moreover, affected only the parishes of Mitcham and Merton,
and, if expressed in proportion to the population of those two
parishes, represents a death-rate of no less than 1386 per million
living.
Constitutional Diseases.—Sixty deaths were due to constitutional
diseases, being in the proportion of 2.1 per 1000, which
is a low rate. The most important of this class are tubercular
diseases. Phthisis, or pulmonary consumption, caused 30 deaths,
giving a rate of l.06 per 1000, against an annual average of 1.16.
The annual average for England and Wales is about l.6. Other
tubercular diseases caused 14 deaths, and of the remaining deaths
in this class, six were ascribed to cancer or malignant disease.
Local Diseases.—The diseases of this class caused 133 deaths,
giving a rate of 4.72 living, which is also a low rate. Diseases
of the nervous, circulatory, and respiratory systems caused 105
of these deaths, or 33, 30, and 42 deaths respectively, corresponding
to death-rates of 1.17, 1.07, and 1.5 per 1000, all of
which are materially less than the corresponding averages for
England and Wales.
Violent Deaths.—Deaths due to violence numbered 15, giving
a death-rate of .52 per 1000, against an average rate of about .6
per 1000 for England and Wales. Forty-seven per cent. of the
deaths were due to accidental causes. The number of deaths
due to suicide, was more than double the average relative number
in England and Wales.
Inquests and Uncertified Deaths.—The deaths of 1894, apart
from those which occurred in institutions, include 33 which were
the subjects of coroners' inquests. This number is 11 per cent.
of the total deaths, which is a somewhat high percentage, and