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sions as a cause of death is frequently associated, in medical
certificates, with definite diseases, and with ''teething." The
convulsions being a symptom only, such deaths are classified to
the primary disease named, or to dentition, as the case may be.
Laryngismus Stridulus (spasm of the glottis), included in
the new classification with diseases of the nervous system, is
not infrequently the assigned cause of death of children
"found dead in bed." The name of the disease has much the
same meaning as "want of breath," which, indeed, is the
cause of death from spasm of the glottis. In the absence of
other apparent cause of death, the pre-existence of spasm of the
glottis may have been inferred; but it is quite possible, to say
the least of it, that in some of the cases the children had been
"overlaid," i.e., suffocated—a remark equally applicable to
deaths attributed to convulsions, in the case of children found
dead in bed. The cause of death in such cases—whether spasm
of the glottis or convulsions be returned—can be only guessed
at, when the child has not been seen to die; for examination
after death cannot prove the occurrence of spasm during life, and
there is no pathological condition which would enable one to
say positively that a child had suffered, still less that it had
died, from convulsions.
2. The second Order comprises the Diseases of the
Organs of Special Sense (e.g., of Ear, Eye, Nose). Five
deaths were registered from these causes.
3. Circulatory System.—The deaths due to diseases of
the organs of circulation, heart and blood vessels, were 200
against 179, 196, 170, and 163 in 1883-4-5-6: 150 were
registered in the Town sub-district, and 50 in Brompton. The
quarterly numbers were 62, 37, 38, and 63. To specified forms
of disease 54 deaths were assigned, viz., Pericarditis, 7; Acute
Endocarditis,3; Valvular Diseases of Heart, 28; Aneurism,
13; Embolism, and Thrombosis, 3. Other Diseases of Heart
caused 142 deaths, and other Diseases of Blood Vessels, 4
deaths.