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14
ature 41°.6 F being 3°.3 above the average. There were
numerous deaths from puerperal fever at this time, a localized
outbreak to which reference will be made later on.
In the second period (5th—8th weeks; January 28 to February
25), the death-rate, 14.9, was 6.3 below the average:
the Metropolitan rate, 20.5, was 5.6 below the average, and
5.6 above the Kensington rate. To the "unseasonable" mildness
of the weather, and to the copious rains from which in
a sense we may be said to have "suffered," the preservation
of many lives, and the consequent lowness of the death-rate,
may be ascribed. In this month the deaths from the
principal diseases of the zymotic class were 13, or 17 below
the average: mean temperature 42°.2, or 3°.l above the
average.
In the third period (9th-12th weeks; February 25 to March
24), somewhat severe weather, (the temperature was 5°.3
below the average), there was a rise in the rate of mortality
resulting principally from an increase in the number of
deaths of young children from pulmonary and other diseases.
Nevertheless the death-rate, 17 per 1,000, was 3.2 below the
decennial average and 6'0 below the Metropolitan rate, which
moreover, was 1.2 below the average. The deaths from the
principal diseases of the zymotic class were 11, being 18
below the average: mean temperature 36°.6; average of
ten years, 41.9.
In the fourth period (13th-l(5th weeks; March 25 to April
21), the effects of previous severe weather were shown by a
considerable rise in the death-rate due to an increase in the
number of deaths of young children and aged people, and of
persons at all ages from diseases of the respiratory organs. In
these weeks the deaths of children under five were 22 more than
in the preceding month, and 45 more than in the penultimate
month. But although the total deaths showed an increase
of 27 over the preceding month, the number was 20 below
the corrected decennial average. The death-rate, 19.1,
highest recorded in 1883, was 1.5 per 1,000 below the