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inflammatory diseases of the lungs induce dby the extreme severity of the
weather which produced a similar effect all over the metropolis, There
was less fever than usual, 9 cases only having been registered, and there
were 8 deaths from diphtheria, The total mortality from epidemic diseases
was 97, Of the remaining 378 deaths, 26 were caused by
diseases of uncertain seat, viz.: hœmorrhage, dropsy, mortification,
cancer and gout. The two latter were unusually fatal; 12 deaths
having occurred from cancer and 3 from gout. There were 73 deaths
from tubercular diseases, including consumption; 55 deaths from
diseases of the nervous system, of which no less than 13 happened from
apoplexy.
As I have stated on other occasions we find this disease most fatal at
those periods of the year which are attended by rapid oscillations in the
readings of the thermometer and barometer. There were 20 deaths
from diseased heart, and 90 from inflammatory disease of the lungs,
against 80 during the corresponding period of last year. Of the 90 no
less than 50 were attributed to bronchitis. There were also 28 deaths
from diseases of the digestive organs; 7 from child-birth; 20 deaths of
very young infants from premature birth, 28 of persons who were stated
to have died from old age; also 9 sudden and 4 violent deaths.
As this Report has extended already beyond its usual limits I will not
recapitulate any part of the contents of my weekly minutes, except to
mention the necessity of kerbing all the roads and streets which have a
continuous line of houses on either side. Also of keeping the footways
in as firm a state and of using as little fine gravel in making them up
as possible, so as to diminish the quantity of dust in dry weather.
There is also another matter in connection therewith to which I wish to
draw your attention, viz. the state of those streets which have not yet
been dedicated.
The meteorology of the quarter was somewhat unusual, the temperature
having been above the average in October and December and very
considerably below it in November, especially on the 23rd. and 24th. when
the temperature was lower than on any two consecutive days in November
for the last 45 years. On many days the temperature was more than
10 degrees below the average. The mean pressure of the air was
below the average in November and December, and above it in October.
The amount of rain Was less than usual, and the quantity of
ozone noted was also unusually small.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. W. TRIPE.