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94
OTHER MIASMATIC DISEASES.
I.—Influenza.
At the beginning of the year 1895 another epidemic of
influenza prevailed over England, and many parts of the
continent.
The deaths referred to it in London during the whole
year were 2,156 in number, of which not fewer than 1,570
were registered between the middle of February and the
end of March.
The Metropolitan death-rate rose from 17.4 in January,
to the high rate of 41.2 per 1,000 in the week ending
March 9 th.
The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory organs
during the same period rose from 319 to 1,366, exceeding
the corrected average by 842.
As in the case of previous epidemics, the disease
showed a marked excess amongst persons at 65 years and
upwards.
The very severe and unprecedented cold period, from
January 27th to February 18th, undoubtedly accounted for
this excessive mortality.
Mr. James Glaisher, F.R.S., in reporting on the
meteorology of England during the quarter ending
March 31st, 1895, remarks that "the frost, which began
30th December, 1894, continued, with the exception of the
week January 14th to 20th, to March 9th, 1895, or for