MEASLES 229 



Wales show an increased mortality from this disease 

 during the decade ending in 1890, over the previous 

 ten years (2.57 per 1000 deaths under five years of age 

 in 1871-80 and 3.13 in 1881-90.) In the United 

 States the total number of deaths from measles re- 

 ported during the census year 1900 was 12,866. The 

 number of deaths in 1000 from all causes was 12.9 

 while in 1890 the proportion was u.i, showing a 

 decided increase in this country also. More deaths 

 occur in proportion to the population in cities (18.2 

 per 100,000) than in the country (9.9 per 100,000). 

 The greatest mortality occurs among infants less than 

 a year old (i 52.8 per 100,000) and among young child- 

 ren. After the age of five the mortality rate is greatly 

 reduced (under five years 106.5 ; from five to fourteen 

 years 7.4). The death-rate among the coloured popula- 

 tion was somewhat greater than among native whites. 

 " The greatest proportions of deaths from measles 

 occurred in the South-west Central region (51.7), the 

 South Mississippi River belt (40.7), and the Southern 

 Interior plateau (22.7); and the least in the Pacific 

 Coast region (2.1), the Ohio River belt (6.3), and the 

 Prairie region (6.5)" (Census Reports, 1900). The 

 mortality from measles is to a large extent due to 

 pulmonary complications, which are especially liable 

 to occur in young children. The influence of external 

 conditions in giving rise to these fatal complications 



