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27
ZYMOTIC MORTALITY.
Included under this heading are the deaths from the seven principal
Zymotic Diseases, viz., Small-Pox, Measles, Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria,
Whooping Cough, Fever (Typhoid. Typhus, and Continued), and
Diarrhoea.
The rate based on these deaths is usually taken as a standard for
comparison, and inferences drawn as to the good or bad sanitary conditions
existing.
That too much reliance must not be placed on this rate is manifest
when one remembers how many factors enter into its making.
An epidemic of Measles or Whooping Cough in a district otherwise
well administered, would swell the rate considerably, and though special
efforts are made to check these diseases. Measles was very rife in the
year under review, hence our large Zymotic rate of 2.89.
The improper observance of the general laws of health, and the lack
of intelligent management in the nursing and feeding of babies during
the diarrhœal months, are characteristic of the poor, and are especially
noticeable in seasons favourable to this mortality.
In this connection too, special precautions have been taken, but we
have to await the advent of properly educated mothers for a full realization
of a low rate.
Among the deaths from these diseases are included five from
Enteritis and nine from Gastro-Enteritis, and the total deaths were 385
as compared with 210 in 1903.
These deaths represent a rate of 3.0 in a population of 108,000, and
2.89 on the Registrar-General's assumption. The rate for 1903 was
1.97; 1902, 1.31; 1901, 2.82; and 1900, 2.81.
The deaths from Measles and Scarlet Fever were in excess of any of
the previous six years, those from Whooping Cough were below the
average, those from Diphtheria had risen from 17 in 1903 to 27, but
still considerably below what has been usual in this district, while
Typhoid deaths were fewer than in the- previous years.