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31
Since the disease reached this country from the East at
the close of 1889, there have been in all six marked outbreaks
in London, viz., (1) in the winter of 1889.1890; (2) in the
spring and summer of 1891' (3) in the winter of 1891-1892;
(4) in the spring of 1893; (5) in the winter of 1893-1894,
and the present one. It would appear that the Influenzal
germ or virus still persists in places where it was introduced,
and that some local conditions serve from time to time to
bring about its renewed activity and virulence. Last year
the outbreak coincided with the prolonged and severe frost,
but hitherto no concordance has been established between
Influenza and any special climatic condition.
It is possible that the general insanitary state of the
majority of the houses, owing to the accumulation of filth
consequent on frozen soil pipes, waterless closets, and the
difficulty of promptly removing the house refuse, owing to
the barges not being able to leave the wharf, may have had
some influence in promoting the spread of the disease.
Septic Diseases.
From Septic diseases, other than Erysipelas and Puerperal
Fever, there were three deaths.
Venereal Diseases.
Eighteen deaths were attributed to these diseases, of
which 16 were due to Congenital Syphilis.
CLASS III.—DIETETIC DISEASES.
Nine deaths were stated to be directly due to alcoholic
excess. Probably, if the recommendation of the Select
Committee of the House of Commons for the improvement
of death certificates and registration, that medical
practitioners should be required to send certificates of death
to the Registrar, instead of handing them to the representatives
of the deceased," were carried out, the number of
deaths in this class would be materially increased.