View report page

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, smallpox
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 diarrhœal mortality is attributable to the coldness of
the summer season in several of the years in the second period,
and may therefore be regard 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