74 
of small-pox also favour the development of scarlet fever, so 
that if a marked increase takes place in one, an equally 
marked increase may be soon expected to appear in the other; 
and yet, while scarlet fever has been favourably influenced 
by ordinary means and treatment, small-pox 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 suppression.^ 
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 there- 
fore that the total mortality from diseases of the non-pre- 
ventible 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 con- 
tributed to this increase, and in what proportions. 
An examination of the returns soon showed that consider- 
able 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. 
Broncliitis 35 '1 
Heart Disease 32'3 
Diarrhoea 26 '3 
Lung Disease 24‘0 
Cancer 22’0 
Liver Disease 18*1 
Kidney „ 16’7 
Per cent. 
Tahes Mesehterica 16U 
Cephalitis 15’0 
Eheumatism 13‘5 
Brain Disease 11*4 
Apoplexy IM 
Premature Birth 9’0 
Paralysis 8‘2 
The following are the principal non-preventible diseases 
^ Since this was written the Registrar General’s Annual 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 the 
following year, 1875, the epidemic commenced from which we are now 
suffering. 
