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96
Order 5, “Venereal Diseases," includes syphilis, gonorrhoea,
and stricture of the urethra. Syphilis was the only fatal disease
in 1882, the deaths registered being 21—viz., 18 in the Town
sub-district, and 3 in Brompton: l6 of the deaths were of
infants under one year of age. Probably if the whole truth
were known, it would appear that this Protean malady was
really accountable for a much larger number of deaths.
Order 6, Septic Diseases. This order comprises Erysipelas,
Pycemia, Septiœmia, and Puerperal Fever, the total deaths
registered being 32.
Erysipelas was the cause of 14 deaths, all save 2 in the Town
sub-district, and 8 of them of children under one year of age.
Pyœmia and septiœmia were the causes of 8 deaths, including
1 in the Brompton sub-district.
Puerperal Fever was the registered cause of 10 deaths, all
but 2 in the Town sub-district. Seven of the deaths were of
women between 25 and 35 years of age; 1 and 2 deaths respectively,
occurred in women between 15 and 25, and 35 and 45.
In addition to these 10 deaths, nine other deaths (all but 1 in the
Town sub-district) were registered as having occurred in childbirth.
The distinction between the deaths in these two classes of
cases is, that whilst puerperal fever is a specific and highly
infectious or contagious disease, deaths registered in childbirth
are generally accidental, a common cause being hemorrhage
("flooding"). The total deaths registered as having been
occasioned by the diseases, and accidents associated with parturition
(19, or 5 more than in 1881), were equal to 0.4 per cent.
on the registered live births.
Class 2.—Parasitic Diseases.
This class includes, Thrush and other vegetable parasitic
diseases; 8 deaths, in the Town district, 6 under 1 year of
age, and 2 between 1 and 5; and “Worms, Hydatids, and other
animal parasitic diseases," no deaths having been registered
from these latter causes.