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which include consumption, water on the brain, tubercular diseases
of the bowels and scrofula, was 16.77; in 1866-75, 16 52, and
during the last two years 15.55 in each 100 deaths. Diseases of
the nervous system which include inflammation of the brain,
apoplexy, paralysis, insanity, &c., are slightly on the increase, the
rate having been 12.18 in 1856-65, 12.09 in 1866-75, and 12.51
in 1871-77. The low average for the ten years 1860-75 was due
to a singularly small number of deaths from these causes in
several of the years. Diseases of the heart, as shown by the
deaths, have considerably increased of late, although perhaps this
may be partly due to more careful and accurate diagnosis in late
years, and therefore more apparent than real. The same remark
applies to inflammatory affections of the lungs and air passages
which have increased from 16.39 in the ten years, 1856-65, to
17.94 in the seven years, 1871-77. Deaths from premature
birth and atrophy have varied rather considerably, and were a
little above the mean of any of the decennial periods. This is
probably due to deaths hitherto assigned to " old age," being
now certified as having been caused by heart disease, chronic
bronchitis, and other ailments whose averages have increased.
The deaths from violence are as nearly as possible the same as
in 1866-75.