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33
CAUSES OF DEATH.
1.—Zymotic Disease. The Deaths registered under this important heading,
which comprises the continued fevers, Small-pox, Measles, Scarlatina, Whooping-cough,
Diarrhœa, and Diphtheria (which are usually returned as "the seven principal Diseases" )
and other " communicable" or "infectious" diseases, as well as those due to special
blood poisoning, amounted to 184.
The "seven principal Diseases" had 155 victims, 110 of whom were children
under 5 years, Choleraic Diarrhœra (so called "English Cholera" ) with 4 instances,
Rheumatism, Alcoholism, Dysentery, Carbuncle, Puerperal Fever, Erysipelas, Quinsy,
Thrush, and Croup, made up the balance.
A tabular statement of the chief points respecting the "principal diseases" is
appended. The others were few in number, and of sporadic nature.
To the extent of their cognisance and powers, all possible means of precaution and
prevention were carried out by your Officers from time to time, and the spread of
disease was much checked thereby. The few cases of typhus and diphtheria were both
traced to their origin and stamped out; but the outbreaks of enteric fever, measles,
diarrhoea, and whooping cough were decidedly epidemic, the three last being most fatal,
as such patients are with difficulty, if at all, isolated at home, and no provision is made
for their treatment in special Hospitals.
The total Zymotic death-rate was 5.5 per 1000, the special 4.6. The special child
Zymotic rate was 3.9 per 1000. For the years 1868, 1877 the means were 9.0 per
1000 and 4.8 per 1000.
Of these communicable diseases, perhaps the most loathsome, and certainly the
most fatal when allowed to have its "own sweet will," is small pox; how its ravages can
be diminished by vaccination, and how fatal it is when unopposed, may be seen by a
perusal of the following statements which I extract from the Report of the Medical
Superintendent of the Small-pox Hospital, at Homerton.
Persons of all ages and bothe sexes.
Mortality.
Class I .—Vaccinated with good marks.
3.32 per cent.
„ II. „ imperfect do.
11.10 „
„ III.—Said to be vaccinated but showing no marks
27.23
„ IV.—Unvaccinated.
45.76 „
Balance in favour of well marked vaccination 42.44 per cent.