H.—3l

52

Zymotic Diseases. Of the 209 deaths recorded in the four chief cities Christchurch is only responsible for 13, distributed as follows: 5 influenza, 3 whooping-cough, 1 diphtheria, 2 typhoid. This is very creditable for Christchurch, in spite of the fact that, as the measles epidemic started here much later than in the other towns, no deaths from measles were recorded in Christchurch in the year 1902, as, although measles was responsible for 92 of the 209 deaths from zymotic diseases in the other three towns, Christchurch was only responsible for 13 of the remaining 17 deaths. Diarrheal Diseases. The statistics of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases is not so favourable for Christchurch. Of the 125 deaths from diarrhceal disease Christchurch was responsible for 31, coming second highest in the list; 29 of these deaths occurred in persons under the age of five years. The number of deaths from infantile diarrhoea is regarded as one of the most important criteria in judging in the sanitation of a town. Infantile Mortality. Another important criterion is the infantile mortality—this is, the proportion of deaths of children under one year of age to every 100 births, and was 11-6 in Christchurch in 1902, giving Christchurch the third highest rate among the other cities. If, however, the mean of the last five years was taken the figure is 12-96, placing Christchurch the second highest in the list. Phthisis. The only other table that need be referred to here is that showing the number of deaths from phthisis. That gives Christchurch 57 deaths out of a total of 192—a larger number than any of the other cities.

Infectious Diseases. Table 1.

o n cu o Ph CD > "5 EH u > o Ph CD 3 o 03 .s* * C3 1 a •j § & <s CD H CQ M A c o u CD I H Amuri County Hanmer Plains ... Culverden Akaroa County Ashburton County ... Ashburton and suburbs Eakaia ... Methven Ashley County Eangiora Kaiapoi... Oxford ... Waikare ... ... ... Amberley Cheviot County Cheviot ... McKenzie Geraldine County ... Geraldine Temuka... Orari Kaikoura County ... Kaikoura Levels County Timaru ... McKenzie County ... Fairlie ... 1,142 4',228 13,644 15,162 1,120 "i "s i 1 ""6 60 4 13 11 82 22 34 1 3 4 3 2 2 1 1 2 "l 1 '2 2 3 6 13 6 1 4 4 1 1 1 7 1 4 2 i 7,456 8 21 4 8 1 5 150 4 3 i i i 1 1,765 "1 i 11,920 13 15 24 i 2 i 6 1 1,642 "8 "i "2 i 1 Selwyn County Christchurch Woolston Sydenham St. Albans Linwood Avon Biccarton Heathcote Addington Dallington Spreydon 41,480 12 "2 5 2 1 8 147 21 98 29 52 42 10 4 7 6 9 "8 5 2 1 2 1 1 3 1 26 17 7 11 15 1 2 "4 4 3 3 6 1 15 4 3 5 4 i "i "3 4 "2 "i "i Totals, Christchurch and district 25 433 24 81 27 33 ... ; 1 I i I 1 , I [