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31
ZYMOTIC MORTALITY.
Notwithstanding the considerable increase in mortality
from zymotic diarrhoea, the death-rate from the seven principal
zymotic diseases is the lowest but one during the last ten years.
It is 1.7 per 1,000 as compared with the lowest, viz., 1.66 per
1,000 in 1895.
The death-rate from scarlet fever, namely, 1.4 per 100,000, is
the lowest on record; that from diphtheria, viz., 14 per 100,000, is
double that of last year, but about half of the mean for the last
30 years. The death-rate from typhoid fever is 6 per 100,000, or
about one-third of the mean for the same period.
PHTHISIS.
The deaths from phthisis, 141, give a rate of 104 per 100,000,
the highest during the last five years.
At a time when so much attention is devoted to diminishing
the death-rate from this cause, this is far from satisfactory. It is
probable, however, that the increase is accidental. Phthisis is a
disease usually of some years duration, and last year the deathrate
from this cause in Willesden was one of the lowest recorded.
It may be that the year is unfavoured in the balance which more
truly represents the mortality from such chronic affections.
It will be seen from the table that Willesden compares not
unfavourably in its phthisis mortality either with rural or urban
England.