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while the maximum number was reached once in January (1888),
once in July, three times in September, nine times in October, four
times in November, and twice in December. The enteric fever
admissions fell to the minimum three times in March, four times in
April, five times in May, seven times in June, and once in July; and
rose to the maximum once in September, twelve times in October,
seven times in November, and once in December. Diphtheria cases
were admitted to the hospitals for the first time at the end of October
1888. During 1889 the minimum admissions took place in January;
in 1890 in April, and in 1891 in January again; and the maximum
admissions of 1889 in November, and in 1890 and 1891 in
September.
Mortality from Scarlet Fever.— The admissions in 1891 were
5,262—the females being 68 in excess of the males. The deaths
were at the rate of 6T9 on the admissions: amongst males 6.19 per
cent. ; amongst females 5.86 per cent. A table is given showing the
mortality, at various ages, of 42,111 cases of this disease admitted in
the years 1871 to 1891. Four thousand and thirty-three deaths
occurred, equal to 9.58 per cent, on the admissions. The mortality at
ages under five years was close on 20 per cent. In round numbers
the rate under one year, and between 1 and 2 years, was 30 per cent.:
between 2 and 3 it was 24 per cent., between 3 and 4 years, 17 per
cent., between 4 and 5 years 12 per cent. Considerably more than
half of the total deaths—2,407 out of 4,033—occurred under the age
of five years, the admissions being 12,077: the admissions above five
were 30,034. Up to five years of age the liability of either sex to be
attacked appears to be nearly equal, but after that age a greater
immunity is enjoyed by the male sex; nevertheless the total mortality
of males is greater than that of females by T4 per cent.
Mortality from Diphtheria.—It is stated that 56 out of the total
of 57 deaths at the South-Eastern Hospital occurred within 48 hours
after the admission of the patients. The mortality, at various ages, of
3,075 cases admitted to the hospitals in the years 1888 to 1891, was
at the rate of 33.63 per cent. Under five years it was 55.54 per cent,
being, in round figures, 60, 69, 65, 51, and 45 per cent., in the consecutive
years of life. Between 5 and 10 years the rate was 32-5 per
cent.; in the next five years—10 to 15—it fell to 12.7 per cent.,