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enumerated population of 96,813, furnished more
deaths, viz., 1,929, than did the year 1877, with an
estimated population of 109,425, and a death-roll of
3,886. This favourable state of the public health has
been attributed to the comparatively low temperature
during the summer months, and to the excessive rainfall
in the first three months of the year ; but to
medical science, and to the greater attention paid to
sanitary matters, much of the improvement may be
fairly ascribed.
DEATHS AND DEATH RATES.
It is satisfactory to notice the fewer deaths amongst
children under one year, and under five years of age,
(Table II.), and the diminished death-rate from
zymotic diseases, (Table IV). The deaths of children
under five years of age, whenever they happen, take
place most frequently, not in hospitals or institutions
either within or without the parish, but at their
own homes, and their number can thus be ascertained
with tolerable accuracy. Consequently in
most communities such deaths, following in too many
instances from preventible diseases, are a primary test
both of the sanitary conditions, and to some extent of
the comfortable surroundings of those homes. Last
year 380 infants, or 13 per cent. of all that were born
in the parish, died during their first year of life; and
no fewer than 649, or 38 per cent. of all who died, were
children under five years of age. Of this number 22
met with violent deaths.