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In the fifth period (17th-20th weeks, April 24th to May
21st) the death rate was 15.1 per 1,000, 0.9 below the decennial
average, and 3.8 below the Metropolitan rate (18.9), this being
1.8 below the average. The deaths from the principal diseases
of the zymotic class were 25, being one above the corrected
average. The only death in 1887 from small-pox occurred in
this period: the victim was a gentleman living in Bolton
Gardens, the disease having been contracted in Paris. The
deaths from measles and whooping-cough were 12 and 5 ; from
scarlet fever and diphtheria 2 and 3, respectively. Scarlet
fever was on the increase in the Metropolis at this time; the
patients in the hospitals on May 21st were 437, and the admissions
in the four weeks 238, against 121 in the preceding four
weeks. Sixteen cases were recorded in Kensington. The mean
temperature was 47°.9, and 1º.8 below the average.
Tn the sixth period (21st—24th weeks, May 22nd to June
18th) the death rate rose to 16.0 per 1,000, and was 0.4 above
the decennial average, but 19 below the Metropolitan rate
(17.9), which was 0.9 below the average. The deaths from the
principal diseases of the zymotic class were 29, one above the
corrected average, including 14 from measles, 5 each from
diphtheria and whooping-cough, and 3 from scarlet fever. The
mean temperature was 57°.5 and 1°.2 above the average.
In the seventh period (25th—28th weeks, June 19th to
July 16th) the death rate fell to 15.6 per 1,000, and was l.0
above the decennial average, but 3.0 below the Metropolitan
rate (18.6), this being 0.7 below the average. The deaths
from the principal diseases of the zymotic class were 50, and 14
above the corrected average. Diarrhcea (mainly, as usual,
amongst infants) was very prevalent at this time, and was the
cause of 25 deaths in the four weeks, the corrected
average number being 14. Measles and whooping cough
were the causes of 12 and 3 deaths respectively ; scarlet
fever and diphtheria 4 each; enteric fever 2. Scarlet fever
was now becoming epidemic in London: the cases in the
Asylums Board Hospitals, on July 16th, were 518, and the