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79
ture that then prevails. The summer of 1879 however,
was exceptional in its coldness and inclemancy, which
conditions, though they brought much discomfort,
and large failure of crops, brought also an improvement
in the health of the population, and especially
an improvement as regards the prevalence and
mortality of diarrhœal affections. In 1878, 176 deaths
were referred to diarrhœa, of which 159 occurred in
children under 5, and 17 in persons above 5. In
1879 the total diarrhoea mortality sank to 75, of which
66 occurred in children, and 9 in persons of more
advanced age. Of the diarrhoea cases which occurred
in 1878, 138 were recorded in the summer quarter :
of those which occurred in 1879, only 46 were registered
during the corresponding period.
The particulars and progress of Zymotic Diseases
are exhibited in Tables II. and III. In the former
of these Tables is shewn the actual mortality due to
these several affections year by year, from the year
that the Vestry came into existence. In the latter
are displayed the fluctuation of these same affections
quarterly ever since the year 1871, in which the
Census was taken. In examining these Tables, however,
it must be borne in mind that no allowance has
been made for increase of population; that in 1856