42

H.—3l

Of 414 deaths from diseases of the urinary system in 1907, the deaths from Bright's disease of the kidneys (albuminuria) numbered 211. Of the groups, (a) and (&), constituting the order styled " Diseases of the reproductive system,'' the greater mortality is found under (b), " Diseases of parturition." In considering the deaths of women in childbirth the numbers from Order 6, Class I, under the designation " Puerperal fever, pyaemia, septicaemia," have also to be dealt with. As the figures are highly important, a special comparative statement has been made out, giving besides the number of deaths of mothers the proportions in every 10,000 children born. These proportions, taken over ten years' comparison, fluctuate irregularly, the extreme limits being 3837 per 10,000 births in the year 1900, and 5864 for the year 1903.

Women dying in Childbirth.

But any conclusion drawn from the above figures must be held as qualified by the remarks on page 3 touching the matter of diminished fertility of wives at child-bearing ages. VIOLENT DEATHS. Deaths from violence form a large item in the total mortality. In 1907 the proportion per 10,000 of persons living was 7 P 76, the total number of deaths having been 713. Of 602 males who died violent deaths, 92 were suicides. The deaths of females by violence were far fewer than those of males, amounting to 111, and out of these only 10 committed suicide. A table given previously states the full list of deaths from external or violent causes for the year 1907. Accidental deaths numbered 605 —males 506, and females 99. Of the total male deaths, 210 resulted from fractures or contusions, and 161 from drowning. Of the female deaths, 25 were due to drowning. Infectious Diseases. The following table is worthy of more than passing interest. It shows the number of infectious diseases reported to the Department from the several health districts: —

There are difficulties in the way of assessing with any degree of accuracy the relationship between the number of cases and the number of deaths. As I have already pointed out, the years

Deaths of Women in each Year. Year. Deaths of Mothers to every 10,000 Children Born." In Childbirth. From Puer- TM peral Fever, &o. 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 72 71 51 70 85 100 85 79 76 87 19 15 24 20 25 28 21 21 18 29 91 86 75 90 110 128 106 100 94 116 48-01 45-66 38-37 43-92 53-26 58-64 46-56 42-23 39-11 46-23 A Stillbirths are n> it registered.

Healtl District. Nature of Disease. 1 o as I H 1 I I I I l?5 o : O Total. 1 4 1 Enteric fever icarlet fever )iphtheria ilood-poisoning Subonic plague Fuberculosis jeprosy 'uerperal fever lydatids .. Actinomycosis 353 55 277 133 165 36 76 8 2 198 52 1,071 284 102 959 296 39 171 1 6 4 17 9 23 27 6 4 1 80 22 205 8 95 .. 52 9 83 21 40 536 36 246 58 33 152 656 1,873 681 • 208 |»2 678 1 1 26 1 53 25 55 2 856 1 5 1 15 Totals 1,574 37 60 525 4,127