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among other causes, from erysipelas (161), phthisis and tubercular
diseases (1,195), diseases of nervous system (759), diseases of
respiratory system (665), and "all other causes" (1,161), the
total diminution being 8,178. On the other hand, there was an
excess under six heads—viz., diarrhoeal diseases (720), cancer
(194), premature birth (218), diseases of circulatory system (742),
diseases of urinary system (203), and suicide (36). The excess
(2,113) being deducted from the diminution, a balance of diminution
and excess shews a net diminution of 6,065. It is shewn
further that as regards cancer, premature birth, diseases of the
circulatory system, and diseases of the urinary system, the
increased mortality has been continuous for some years, not in
London only but throughout the country generally. The increased
fatality of diarrhoeal diseases is accounted for by "the hot
weather that prevailed through the summer, the mean temperature
for each month from July to October inclusively having been considerably
above the previous average." So with regard to the
diseases which shew diminished mortalities; "here, also, most
of the changes are not peculiar to the year 1886, but are parts of
a change that has been going on for a considerable time," for, in
regard to 11 out of 17 causes named, "there was also a diminution
in each of the three preceding years—viz., under scarlet fever,
typhus, simple continued fever, enteric fever, erysipelas, phthisis
and tubercular diseases, diseases of the nervous system, diseases
of the respiratory system, accident, murder. This persistency
of decrease," it is added, "affords fair grounds for expectation that
the diminution under, at any rate, some of these headings will be
permanently maintained."
The death rate in the "Outer Ring" of Suburban Districts,
with a population slightly exceeding a million persons, "did not
exceed 17.0, and was 0.5 below the rate in the preceding year."
The rate in twenty-seven large towns, excluding London,
having an aggregate population close on four millions, was 20.1,
ranging between 17.1 in Brighton, and 28.9 in Preston, without
correction for differences between one town and another in regard
to the age and sex distribution of their respective populations.
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