THE RATES OF MORTALITY. 65 



has not received the slightest check, but, on the contrary, 

 has gone on increasing in fatality in spite of the application 

 of both ordinary and extraordinary means for its sup- 

 pression"^. 



The results given above seem to indicate clearly that the 

 infectious diseases, as a class, have, so far, been favourably 

 acted upon by the carrying-out of sanitary measures, and 

 the mortality from them sensibly reduced. It follows, 

 therefore, that the total mortality from diseases of the non- 

 preventible class must have increased to a slightly greater 

 extent ; and it becomes a matter of considerable interest 

 and importance to ascertain which of these diseases have 

 contributed to this increase, and in what proportions. 



An examination of the returns soon showed that consi- 

 derable changes had taken place in the mortality from 

 several of the diseases which are usually regarded as not 

 being under the control of sanitary officials, and that, while 

 in some it had increased, in others it had diminished, 

 though, on the whole, to a somewhat less extent. 



The principal non-preventible diseases which increased 

 in fatality, and the rates of increase, were as follows : — 



Per cent. 



Tabes mesenterica i6'i 



Cephalitis i5'o 



Rheumatism i3"5 



Brain-disease ii'4 



Apoplexy ii'i 



Premature birth 90 



Per cent. 



Bronchitis 35'i 



Heart-disease 32'3 



Diarrhoea 263 



Lung-disease 24*0 



Cancer 22*0 



Liver-disease i8'i 



Kidney-disease i6'7 



Paralysis 8'2 



The following are the principal non-preventible diseases 

 which have diminished in fatality, and their rates of dimi- 

 nution : — 



* Since this was written the Registrar-Genei-al's Report for 1874 has been 

 issued; and I find that the deaths from scarlet fever rose from 13,144 in 

 1873, to 24,922 in 1874. This was a clear indication that another outbreak 

 of small-pox was at hand ; and, accordingly, in ihe following year, 1875, the 

 epidemic commenced from which we are now suffering. 



SER. III. VOL. VI. F 



