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65
It will be observed that, after making correction for increase of
population, there was an increase in the number of deaths, hi the
second period, in respect of two diseases, small-pox and whoopingcough.
Of whooping-cough I shall only say that it is a disease 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 in the second period (1871-82),
whereas in the first period of twelve years (1859-70), 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, unless as a general result of improved sanitary
conditions. The diminished diarrhceal mortality may be attributed
to the coldness of the summer season in several of the years in
the second period, 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 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" (mainly
enteric 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 ; and that Hie scarlet fever deaths were
fewer by 383, without correction, and with correction, by 1,053. It
will be observed that in the first ten years of the first period no
deaths were recorded from diphtheria, although the Table commences
in 1859, the year in which diphtheria was first classified
and registered as a disease separate and distinct from scarlet fever.
I am unable to account for the omission, there being no records
extant, except upon the improbable assumption that no deaths
from diphtheria took place in Kensingtou in those years. I have
thought it fair, in any case, to bracket scarlet fever and diphtheria
in the two periods, respectively, for comparison ; and thus, adding
the deaths from diphtheria, 23 in the first p>eriod, and 213 in the