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34
their existence, and who were the subjects of the
conditions already explained.
Between two and Jive years of age. Causing the
deaths of more boys than girls, and thus nearly disposing
of the remaining difference in point of numbers between
the sexes, the exanthemata are, at this age, the most
potent death factors, particularly scarlet fever, which is
most fatal during the third and fourth year.
Constitutional diseases, the result of some hereditary
taint, of debility connected with teething, or with
some other ailment, of insufficient or improper food, or
of the want of fresh air, cleanliness, good nursing, &c.,
—in a word, diseases arising from the absence of
favourable sanitary conditions—add largely to the
death-roll at this period.
The same may be said of local diseases, such as
convulsions, and others of an inflammatory type, which
are oftentimes the consequence of needless exposure
to cold.
Thus we see, that, principally from the diseases
- already named, no fewer than 712 children died in
this parish, during the last twelve months, before
the completion of their fifth year. This represents 38
per cent, of the entire mortality, or 6'77 deaths per
1,000 of the population.
This death-rate, I am happy to say, is decreasing;
and it must continue to do so, if sanitary science is to
accomplish anything. If sanitary science fail to
remove, so far as is practicable, those causes which
strike down nearly one half of the race before it can be