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7
SUMMARY OF VITAL STATISTICS, &c.
The year 1888, regarded merely from the point of view of
the death-rate, was not a bad one, the rate (15* 9) being 0.9
below the decennial average. But it was characterised by an
excessive mortality from two of the zymotic diseases, measles
and diphtheria. Diphtheria, it may be mentioned, was more
prevalent and more fatal in 1888 than in any previous year.
Nevertheless in nine of 13 four-weekly periods I had to report
a rate below the decennial average ; the deficiency ranging
from 0.3 in the four weeks August 12th to September 8th, to
3.5 in the four preceding weeks, July 15th to August 11th.
The lowest rate (13.0) was recorded in the four weeks ended
July 14th, the highest (18.3) in three four-weekly periods
ended January 28th, April 21st, and December 1st. The
summer monihs were characterised by a low rate of mortality,
resulting from the comparative absence of infantile diarrhoea,
this immunity being due to the coldness of the season. The
deaths in the year from diarrhoea were only 58, scarcely more
than half the corrected decennial average number. There was
no death from small-pox or typhus fever during the year ; but
the total deaths from the " seven principal diseases of the
zymotic class " (420) were 18 above the corrected average, the
excess as already stated being from measles (124 deaths),
and diphtheria (89 deaths). Enteric fever deaths (21) were
average, those from scarlet fever (26) being scarcely more
than half the corrected average. The mean temperature of
the air (47°*7) was 1.0 below the average of 117 years.
The death rate in the first four weeks of the year (ended
January 28th) was 18.3 per 1,000 persons living, being 2.5
below the decennial average. It was also 4.9 below the rate
in the Metropolis as a whole (23.2), this moreover being 0.9
below the decennial average. The deaths from the principal