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the diminished mortality in 1879 had no relation to the excessive
mortality in 1878; the conditions were altogether different. The
summer of 1879 was cold and wet, and, as always happens in these
circumstances, the mortality from infantile diarrhoea was low, just
as it is always high when the summer is hot and dry, as it was in
1878. Per contra, it may he observed that the conditions that
were so favourable to infantile life in respect of diarrhoea, in
1879, were very unfavourable to life, both in the young and in the
aged, in respect of another group of diseases, the pulmonary,
the mortality from which throughout the year was excessive, as
it always is in cold and wet seasons.
Again, the significance of a high rate of prevalence of enteric
fever differs widely according to circumstances: the disease may
be constantly present in one district as the result of drainage
defects, or of a polluted water supply; whilst in another district
its introduction may be due to an accidental pollution of water,
or to a specifically contaminated milk supply—and the same
observation in regard to milk applies equally in the case of scarlet
fever also.
These and like circumstances must be kept in view if we would
draw right conclusions from a high or a low rate of prevalence of
diseases, particularly in relation to the sanitary condition of a
district.
Subject to corrections for local and climatic conditions, and for
high rates in previous years, the concurrence of a low zymotic and
of a low general death rate, furnishes just ground for satisfaction;
and as the general rate and the zymotic rate were both low in
Kensington in 1884, we are fairly entitled to the enjoyment of that
satisfaction. It need hardly be said, on the other hand, that a
persistently high rate of mortality from zymotic diseases furnishes
matter for serious consideration. Kensington, as we shall see, in
due course, has hitherto been in the happy position of having a
death rate from these diseases much below that of the Metropolis
.generally.