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This table shows that the number of deaths from these
diseases was larger than in any year since 1871, but it must be
remembered that as the population has increased at the rate of
about 4 per cent. per annum during the last ten years; the
number of deaths in 1868 must be increased by at least 40
per cent. to make the comparison equal with 1878. It will be
seen that, as compared with the ten years, 1868-77, the
death-rate per 10,000 inhabitants in 1878 from small-pox was
5.2 against 6.0; from measles, 1.9 against 13.6; scarlet fever,
7.2 against 6.8; diphtheria, 1.4 against 1.1; whooping cough,
8.1 against 5.6; fever, 4.2 against 3.8, and diarrhoea 9.4,
against 18.6, the total being 37.4 against 35.5, so that whooping
cough alone caused a mortality above the average, which amounts
to more than the total excess. These deaths are the more to be
regretted as whooping would rarely prove fatal if due care were
taken not to expose the sufferers to cold air, and proper medical
advice procured. It will be seen that scarlet fever was unusually
prevalent here in 1869 and 1870; in 1874, and in 1878,
according to its ordinary period of recurrence; whilst small pox
was almost absent except in 1871.72, and in 1876-77 and 78.
That measles prevailed in 1869, 1874 and 1877; whilst with the
exceptions of 1871, when comparatively few deaths occurred, the
mortality from fever varied within but narrow limits. The
largest number of deaths from diarrhœa, were registered in 1873
and 1878. The table also shows that the number of deaths in
London from these causes oscillated very considerably during
these years.
As I have already pointed out the death-rates from
different diseases, I need not dwell much upon the table IX,
which shows the percentages of deaths from 12 groups of diseases.
The first shows that the mean death-rate from those maladies,
which are termed zymotic by the Registrar General, but which
include not only all infectious diseases, but rheumatism and
deaths by privation and alcohol, has varied but little since 1856,
when periods of several years are taken. Thus in 1856-65, the
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