View report page

10
of disease was 10.6. Passing over diseases of the Nervous System, which
caused 178 deaths, and those of the Organs of Circulation, which caused 49,
but which present no features of sufficient importance to demand more than
this brief notice, we have our attention drawn to the number of deaths registered
from diseases of the Respiratory Organs, viz., 322. The greatest
number of deaths from these causes was registered in the quarter ended
Christmas, when the average temperature was 45°, and the number recorded
was 117. The least number was registered in the quarter ended
Michaelmas, when the average temperature was 61.3, and the recorded
deaths numbered 38. Bronchitis caused the greatest mortality, being
credited with 190 deaths—109 of these were those of children under 5 years.
From this age until 40 the mortality was trifling, but during the next two
vicenniads 71 succumbed to the disease. Pneumonia caused 121 deaths, the
period of greatest mortality appearing to be between the ages of 1 and 5
years, after which children under 1 year suffered most. Altogether the
deaths of 93 children under 5 years were recorded from this disease.
Among diseases of the Digestive Organs we note 13 from Enteritis, 10
from Ascites, and 19 from Diseases of the Liver. Diseases of the Urinary
Organs caused 22 deaths, viz., from Nephritis 15, from Bright's Disease 2,
and from Kidney Disease (not further defined) 5.
Diseases connected with development caused 127 deaths, the period of
greatest mortality was the quarter ended Lady-day, when the average temperature
was 37.8. Of the total deaths 8.2 per cent. were due to diseases of
this class, and the annual rate of mortality therefrom was 2.1 per 1,000
living. Among these the diseases peculiar to children caused 32 deaths, of
which 13 were due to premature birth, and 14 to teething. Forty-nine
deaths were returned as not being traceable to any distinct disease, but as
being simply the result of the decay of nature. Thirty-nine deaths occurred