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14
average. The mean temperature, 49.8 was 2°.2 above the
decennial average.
In the twelfth period (45th-48th weeks, November 5 to
December 2), the death-rate, 17.1 per 1,000, was 2.2 per
1,000 below the decennial average, 4.3 per 1,000 below the
Metropolitan rate, this moreover being 2.l per 1,000 below the
decennial average. The deaths from the principal diseases of
the zymotic class were 7 below the average. The mean temperature
(41°.3) was 1°.4 below the average. The nearer approach
to the end of the year was signalised, as usual, by an increasing
mortality from chest diseases: the total deaths from these
affections were 58 (including bronchitis 36), as compared with
20, 28, and 48 in the three previous periods respectively. The
deaths from the principal diseases of the zymotic class fell from
31 in the eleventh period to 19, and the deaths from scarlet
fever from 16 to 4; the cases from 52 to 37. Enteric fever
was the cause of 4 deaths.
In the thirteenth period (49th-52nd weeks, December
3.30) the rate of mortality (18.1 per 1,000) was 2 per
1,000 below the average, and 6.7 per 1,000 below the Metropolitan
rate (24.8), which, however, was 1.3 per 1,000
below the decennial rate (25.l). In this period measles
and whooping cough were accountable, each, for 5 deaths,
scarlet fever for 7 (including 2 in hospital), and enteric
fever for 3; whilst the deaths from chest diseases further rose to
61, the mean temperature (40°.4) having further declined, but only
to the extent of 0O.9, and being 20.l above the decennial
average.
The year 1882 was a singu'arly healthy one, as gauged
by the death-rate, in the country generally. The RegistrarGeneral
in his fourth quarterly return states that "The deathrate
showed an increase of 0.7 upon the unprecedentedly low
rate in 1881, but was with that single exception lower than the
rate in any year since civil registration was established in 1837."
The death-rate in the Metropolis (21.4 per 1,000) was 0.2 above
the rate in 1881, in respect of which the Registrar-General in