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It will be observed 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 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
is attributable 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 the
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