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5
No Mortality from small pox or cholera has occurred in the District
for the last eight years.
Measles.—Although this disease has been very prevalent in parts
of the District, especially during the latter part of the year, only seven
deaths have been attributed to it. This is about the average deathrate
from this disease for several years.
Scarlet Fever has only proved fatal in two cases. Considering the
number of cases reported this mortality is very small.
Diphtheria has caused 16 deaths, 6 in the first, 1 in the second, 2
in the third, and 7 in the fourth quarter. This mortality is very
slightly over the average taken for the seven years commencing with
1891. The percentage of fatal cases to cases notified is higher when
compared with 1896 but lower when compared with 1895.
Typhoid Fever.—There has been no fatal case of this disease
during the year.
Whooping Cough has proved fatal to the extent of 10 cases,
comparing with 17 for 1896, 10 for 1895 and 22 for 1894.
Diarrhoea.—Twenty-nine fatal eases of this disease have occurred,
28 being in the third quarter, and 1 in the fourth. All these cases
were children under five years of age. These deaths show a considerable
increase over previous years, and constitute nearly half of the
deaths attributed to zymotic diseases. I note that in the vital statistics
of London for August, 1897 (during which month nearly all the deaths