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system. The mortality from the principal diseases of the zymotic
class was also considerably below the average, and this is true of
every one of the diseases excepting diphtheria, which was slightly
in excess. There was not one death, moreover, from small-pox or
typhus fever, and only 11 from scarlet fever, and the same number
from enteric fever (vide Table at page 22).
The death rate in the first four weeks of the registration year
(ended January 30th) was 18.6 per 1,000 persons living, and 2.0
below the decennial average; it was also 4.0 below the Metropolitan
rate, this in turn being 1.6 below the average. The
deaths from the principal diseases of the zymotic class were 15
only, and 13 below the corrected decennial average. Measles was
the cause of 7 deaths. One non-fatal case of small-pox, probably
imported, was recorded. This disease was at low ebb in
London, only 18 cases having been admitted at the Asylums Board
Hospitals in the four weeks, and only 22 cases being under treatment
at the end of January. The mean temperature of the air
was 35°.2 Fahr., and 2°.6 below the means in the corresponding
weeks in the previous ten years.
In the second four-weekly period (5th-8th weeks, January
31st to February 27th) the death rate rose to 19.1 per 1,000, and
was 0.1 above the average, but 5.4 below the Metropolitan rate,
this being 0.2 below the average. The deaths from the principal
diseases of the zymotic class were 28, and included 8 from
measles, and 12 from whooping cough. The mean temperature
was 34°.0, and 7°.2 below the average. Probably it was the
coldest February on record; nevertheless, the rate of mortality in
the Parish, and in the Metropolis as a whole, was not above
the decennial average.
In the third period (9th-12th weeks, February 28th to March
27th) the rate of mortality further rose to 23.2 per 1,000—the
highest in 1886—being 4.5 above the decennial average, but 5.0
below the Metropolitan rate, which was 5.1 above the decennial
average. The deaths from the principal diseases of the zymotic class
were 25, the same as the corrected decennial average. Seventeen of
these deaths were due to whooping cough, and 6 to measles. The