TOTAL DEATHS.

The whole number of deaths reported for 1891, from the cities and towns which contributed returns, was 24,687, and the average number per week was 475. The greatest number of deaths reported in a single week was 694, in the week ending December 26, and the least number was 353, in the week ending July 4.

The weekly average number of deaths reported for each month was as follows:

The months in which the greatest numbers of deaths were reported were July, August and December, and those in which the least numbers were reported were February, March and June.

The percentages of mortality in each of the four quarters of the year were as follows:

The percentages in each quarter were more uniform than those of 1890, in which year the extremes for all ages were 21.8 and 28.6, while in 1891 the extremes were 23.4 and 27.6.

The appearance of influenza in the winter of 1891-92 seems to have had a similar effect upon the mortality rate to that which was observed two years previous.

DEATHS UNDER FIVE YEARS.

The reported number of deaths of children under five years of age was 8,771, and the average weekly number was 169. The greatest number reported in a single week was 371, in the week ending August 1; and the least number was 103, in the week ending June 6. The ratio of the deaths of this class to the total reported mortality was 35.5 per cent., being nearly identical with that of 1890, and but slightly greater than those of the preceding years.

The average weekly number of deaths of children under of years age, by months, was as follows:

five

January,

February,.

March,

April,

May,.

June,

The months having the greatest number of deaths at this period of life were July and August, and those having the least were March and May.

As in previous years, the percentage of deaths of this class. in the third quarter of the year very largely exceeded those of either of the other quarters.

CONSUMPTION.

The number of reported deaths from this cause in 1891 was 2,877, and the weekly average 55. The greatest number of deaths reported from this cause in a single week was 75, in the week ending January 10, and the least number was 33, in the week ending July 18. In most of the weeks the variation from the average was but slight.

The average weekly number reported in each month from this cause was as follows:

The variations from the average weekly numbers for the years 1889, 1890 and 1891 were as follows:

The excessive variation of January, 1890, was attendant upon the epidemic of influenza of that year. The ratio of reported deaths from consumption, as compared with the reported mortality from all causes, was 116.5, while that of previous years was as follows; 1886, 156.5; 1887, 141.1; 1888, 134.2; 1889, 125; and 1890, 130. The ratio to the reporting population was 2.42, as compared with 2.78 in 1890.

ACUTE LUNG DISEASES.

The number of reported deaths from this group of causes in 1891 was 3,205, and the average number for each week was 62.

The average weekly number reported for each month was as follows:

The greatest number of deaths reported from these causes in a single week was 185, in the week ending December 26, and the least number was 14, in the week ending August 29.

The months having the greatest number of reported deaths from these causes were January, May and December, and those having the least number were July, August and Sep