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The average population in the first period of twelve years, (1859-70), was 90,000,
and in the second period, (1871-82), 147,300.
It will be noticed that after making correction for increase
of population there was an increase in the number of deaths,
in the second period, in respect of two diseases, small-pox
and whooping-cough. Of whooping-cough I shall only say
that it is one of the diseases of which we rarely hear until
it has proved fatal, its occurrence never being notified.
Small-pox, on the other hand, is more frequently notified
than any other disease, and yet the deaths show an increase
of 134. This disease, however, was severely epidemic in
four years out of the twelve, (1871-82), whereas in the first
period of twelve years, twice only did the annual number of
deaths exceed twenty. Measles exhibits a decrease,
although, like whooping-cough, it is not notified; but I
am not aware that we are entitled to claim any credit for
the reduced mortality. The diminished diarrhœal mortality
may be attributed, in considerable measure, to the coldness
of recent summers, and may therefore be regarded as accidental.
It is when we come to scarlet-fever and enteric
fever, that the real grounds for satisfaction appear, these
being the diseases which admit—the latter of mitigation by
improved sanitary arrangements, and the former of control
by speedy isolation of the sick in hospitals. And what do
we find? That the deaths from "fever" in the second period
were 108 fewer than in the first period, without correction
for increase of population, and 448 fewer after such correction;
the reduction in respect of scarlet fever being, without