HH62/2/LANARK/102

Transcription

[Page] 101

Deaths. - From all causes 539 deaths were registered
during the year under consideration or a rate per 1,000
of 18·39 - a rate which compares favourably with the rest
of the county, although higher than what one might expect
in a semi-rural population like that of the Lower Ward.
Of the parishes, Carmunnock, as is natural, considering
the number of the people per acre and their occupations,
had the lowest death-rate, viz., 14·22 per 1,000, which, if
maintained, is a very favourable rate indeed; Rutherglen
occupies the next position with 16·37; while the highest
rate is in the Barony Parish, viz., 18·98, which is only a
little above the average rate for the whole district.
Of the 539 deaths 125 were in infants under 1 year,
or, reckoned in proportion to the number of births, 126
per 1,000. This is an infantile mortality below the average,
but still too high to be satisfactory. Carmunnock, again,
is lowest with 67; while Barony has the high proportion
of 152 per 1,000; Rutherglen is second with 74; the
infantile mortality rate in the different parts thus bearing
out the fact shown by the total death-rate that, during
the year 1891, Carmunnock is the healthiest of the parishes
in the Lower Ward, and Rutherglen (landward) the next.

Zymotic Diseases. - Coming now to a consideration of
the deaths from zymotic diseases we find that the total
number of deaths from the principal infectious diseases
in the Lower Ward during 1891 numbered 80. This is
equal to a rate per 1,000 of the population of 2·73, made
up as follows:-
Smallpox, --- 0·000
Diphtheria, --- 0·682
Scarlet Fever, --- 0·204
Typhus Fever, --- 0·000
Enteric Fever, --- 0·546
Measles, --- 0·204
Whooping-cough, --- 0·682
Diarrhœa, --- 0·409
Total, --- 2·727 per 1,000.

[Page] 102

Carmunnock, which has the lowest total death-rate and
the lowest infantile mortality rate, yet stands highest in
the list as regards rate of mortality from zymotic diseases.
That too much importance must not attach to this is
evident from the fact that only 3 deaths took place from
zymotic diseases in this parish, viz., 1 from scarlet fever
and 2 from whooping-cough. The lowest zymotic rate
was in Barony Parish, where 32 deaths took place from
zymotic diseases, viz., 7 from diphtheria, 3 from scarlet
fever, 6 from enteric fever, 1 from measles, 10 from
whooping-cough, and 5 from diarrhœa.

Smallpox. - Fortunately no case of this troublesome
malady came under notice during the year.

Diphtheria. - It is not quite satisfactory to note from
Table XVII. that 25 per cent. of the total mortality from
zymotic diseases was due to diphtheria. Of the 20 deaths
registered 13 were in children under 5 years of age, and
7 in persons over. The rates per 1,000 in the various
parishes were 0·483 in the Barony, 0·728 in Cadder, 1·163
in Govan, and 1·204 in Rutherglen - no death from this
disease being registered in Carmunnock. As I have said
elsewhere in this report our knowledge of the causation
of diphtheria is not very clear, but, to my mind, the disease
is always associated with impurity of air and water, unless,
of course, in those cases where it can be traced to direct
infection.

Scarlet Fever. - The deaths from this very infectious
disease numbered 6 for the year, or a rate for the whole
district of 0·204 per 1,000. This is eminently satisfactory,
although, as scarlet fever comes in waves, we must not
expect always to maintain this low mortality. In the
majority of communities the interval between epidemics
of scarlet fever is five to six years. With complete hospital
accommodation, early notification, and prompt action on