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in 1879 were within one the same as from diphtheria and the quarterly
numbers corresponded in the first, second and fourth quarters: there
being an excess of one from diphtheria in the third quarter.
Erysipelas was the cause of 9 deaths (8 of them in the Town subdistrict):
three of them were of children under five years.
Puerperal Fever (Metria) was the registered cause of six deaths,
the same number as in the years 1878 and 1876. In 1877 the
number was 12, and in 1875, 13. Five of these deaths ocurred in
the Town sub-district, two of them being of women between 15 and
25 years of age, and four between 25 and 35. In addition to these six
deaths from Puerperal Fever, there were 18 deaths from "Childbirth,"
i.e., from diseases, and accidents, as hemorrhage, &c., incident to
parturition, making a total of 24 deaths in childbed, or less than 0'4
per cent, on the births registered. Metria, it may be added, is a
specific disease of a very dangerous, contagious character affecting
women in the puerperal state.
Rheumatism was the cause of 15 deaths, 13 of them in the Town
sub-district. In many of the fatal cases of rheumatism, the immediate
cause of death is heart disease, arising in the progress of the malady.
Not a few of the deaths from "heart disease" might doubtless be
properly registered under the heading of "rheumatism," as the
"primary cause of death," the seeds of heart disease being frequently
laid by an attack of rheumatic fever which may have been forgotten
long before the end comes. Only one of the 15 deaths occurred
under 5: there were four between 5 and 15; 3 between 15 and 25;
and 7 between 35 and 75.
Pyaemia, a fatal form of blood poisoning, was the cause of 6 deaths,
5 of them in the Town sub-district, including one of a child under
five years.
Ague, was the cause of two deaths.
Order 2. Enthetio Diseases.— The most fatal disease in this
order was Syphilis, the cause of 15 deaths, viz.:— 12 of infants
under one year, and 3 of persons between 35 and 45 years. Two of
the deaths were registered in the Brompton sub-district. Probably, if