View report page

2
The total deaths amounted to 706, whilst those of
the corresponding quarter of 1856 numbered 711, and
of 1855, 915. Taking into consideration the evidence
given in the Annual Report of a continuous increase of
population, this lesser mortality becomes the more
marked. Table I in the Appendix exhibits the deaths
distributed according to the principal causes. It is there
shewn that 111 deaths or rather more than one-seventh
of the whole were caused by the six principal zymotic
diseases,—a proportion certainly far too great, but less
than in previous years. The greater part of this zymotic
mortality is due to Hooping-cough which destroyed 30,
and to ordinary Fever which destroyed 37 persons.
Scarlatina was fatal to 20 persons, mostly children; 12
died of Diarrhœa; and only two of Small-pox. The
chief cause of mortality however, was the combined influence
of cold, wet, insufficient food, and impure
air, operating chiefly upon individuals whose vital
powers were previously impaired by chronic disease, by
feeble or degenerate organisation, destitution, or other
causes. This influence is manifested in the large proportion
of deaths from diseases of the respiratory organs.
170 persons were cut off by acute or subacute inflammations
and congestions of the lungs; and 88 by
Phthisis or Lung-consumption.
With reference to the means of lessening the mortality
from zymotic diseases and of course the sickness
of which the mortality is an exponent, I wish to observe
that I deem it premature to construe the diminution of
th e number of deaths from the diseases of this class