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my reports was below the average—being in excess on ten
occasions—the death-rate in 1892 was under average on nine
occasions, and in excess on four only. The excess in
number of deaths was due in both years to the prevalence of
epidemic Influenza; but whereas in 1891 the ill-effects of the
epidemic appeared to extend more or less throughout the year,
as evidenced by the large number of deaths from pulmonary
diseases, the brunt of the mischief was confined in 1892 to the
first few weeks—practically, indeed, to January; in which
month the deaths, 477 in the first four weeks, were about
one-sixth of the total for the entire year. In the same weeks
the deaths from diseases of the respiratory organs, no fewer
than 198 (and 80 more than in the corresponding weeks of
1891), exceeded one-fifth of the total for the year. The highest
monthly death-rate recorded in 1892 (37'2 per 1000), was in
January, the lowest (11.9), in the four weeks (36th—40th),
ended October 8th. The deaths from the principal diseases
of thezymotic class (333)were five below the corrected decennial
average, but 60 more than in 1891, when they were 77 below
average. The most fatal disease was measles, 109
deaths, or 35 above the average. Scarlet fever deaths (36) were
nine in excess. All other diseases of this class were below
average (vide Table, page 22). The mean temperature of
the air (48.10 Fahrenheit) was 11 below the averages of the
preceding 50 years.
The Death-Rate in the first four weeks of the year,
ended January 30th, the highest by far in 1892, was 37.2 per
1000 of the estimated population, and 16.7 above the decennial
average (20.5). It was 2.8 below the metropolitan rate (40.0).
this being 15.5 above the decennial average (24.5). The
deaths from the principal diseases of the zymotic class were
25, and one above the corrected decennial average; viz.,
whooping-cough, 11, diphtheria, 5, scarlet fever, 4, measles, 3,
and diarrhoea, 2. The mortality from diseases of the respiratory
organs was excessive: the deaths from these causes were