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5
As upon previous occasions, I have included eleven
diseases in this class, some of which might be objected
to as only presumably infectious, such as croup, rheumatic
fever, diarrhœa, &c. The number of deaths from
these eleven diseases, during the year, was 346, or little
more than half the number for the previous year, and
162 less than the average number for five previous
years. The mortality from what may be termed the
recognized infectious diseases—fever, small-pox, measles,
and scarlet fever—exhibited a similar low rate.
The total deaths from these four diseases was 108,
compared with 293 for the previous year. There was
not a single death from small-pox during the last of the
four quarters.
In all cases coming to the knowledge of the officers,
where infectious diseases had occurred, notices for
disinfection and cleansing were served, and, where
necessary, orders to enforce the same were obtained,
and carried out under the supervision of the Sanitary
Inspector.
Deaths at Various Ages.
There are no means for ascertaining the number of
children that are what is called "still-born," that is,
they have not presumably had a separate existence, and
the law does not therefore require their advent and exit
to be recorded.
Of these born alive, from 15 to 25 per cent. die
during the first year of age. As already stated, the
number of children registered as born in this Hamlet
during the year, was 4,085; there were during the
same period 690 deaths (more than a third of the whole
mortality) of children between birth and one year old.
No doubt most of this mortality was of these born in
the Hamlet during the year; at all events this must be
closely approximative of the reality, and would show
an infantile death-rate of 17 per cent. during the first