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20
percentage of deaths from these causes was 20.80 of the total
mortality from all causes; in 1866.75, 20.42; and in 1871-78,
20.44; having varied in the last 8 years between 17.1 and 28.4.
As regards diseases of uncertain seat the proportions were 4.84,
4.69 and 4.28; but I am glad to find that tubercular affections
have not caused so large a proportion of deaths during the last
8 years as previously, for in 1856-65 it was 16.77; in 1866-75,
16.52; and in 1871-78 only 15.40; but the deaths from premature
birth and atrophy have increased from 4.89 in 1856-65
to 6.45 in 1866-75, and to 6.82 in 1871.78. This might have
been expected as the mortality amongst children of the poor
during the first year of life is more than double that amongst
infants of the upper and middle classes. The table also shows
that deaths from affections of the nervous system are on the
increase, viz.: from 12.18 in 1856.65 and 12.09 in 1866-75 to
12.60 in 1871.78. This was most marked in 1876.78, when the
rate was 13.2, and was chiefly caused by the large number of
deaths of aged people returned as from brain disease " during the
last three years. The proportionate mortality from affections of
the respiratory organs has also been raised from 16.39 in 1856,
and 16.64 in 1866-75 to 17.94 in 1871-78, chiefly from their
great fatality in 1875, when the weather was very cold. The
other groups of diseases do not require any special mention.
The column of the mean yearly temperature shows within
what small limits this ranges, as in 1856-65 the mean was
49.5; in 1866.75, 49.°5; and in 1871-78, 49.°6; the highest
yearly mean temperature having occurred in 1872, when it was
50.°7, and the lowest in 1871, when it was 48.°7. The mean
yearly rainfall was 23.2 inches in 1856-65; 25.0 inches in
1866.75; and 25.4 inches in 1871.78; the largest total fall in
1871.78 having been in 1872, when it reached 30.0 inches; the
next greatest in 1878, when 29.2 inches were recorded; and the
lowest in 1874, when only 20.0 inches were registered. These
figures are taken from Mr. Glaisber's tables,