59

H.—-31

Causes of Death. Zymotic Diseases.— Auckland and suburban boroughs, 103 deaths. For the last five years: 1903, 86; 1904, 52; 1905, 45; 1906, 42; 1907, 103. These 103 deaths were from— Diarrhoeal diseases ... ... ... ... ... ... 19 Influenza ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 Typhoid fever ... ... ... ... ... ... ..-. 6 Scarlet fever ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Diphtheria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... g Whooping-cough ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 Measles ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 17 Other zymotic diseases ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 103 The deaths under this head from diphtheria, whooping-cough, and measles are unusually high; otherwise the figures follow those of the previous year. The comparatively large number of deaths from measles and whooping-cough, which unfortunately are diseases often lightly viewed by the public, warrants the prosecution of the present crusade to educate the mothers in the rearing and nursing of children, in addition to the important question of feeding. Good results are already being seen from the great attention recently given by the public to this matter. Hydatids. —l death at Hamilton. This disease is much less frequent than formerly. Cancer. —so deaths. Phthisis and other Tubercular Diseases. —66 deaths. Diseases of the Respiratory Organs. —lo2, against 78 for the previous year. The RegistrarGeneral notes a very considerable increase under this head also in Wellington and Christchurch. No doubt this is accounted for by the exceptionally wet weather. In Auckland we had 42 in. of rain during the first nine months of the year. N.B. —From this point statistics cover the period of the departmental year—lst April, 1907, to 31st March, 1908. Infectious-disease Notifications. Notifications of infectious diseases made from every part of the health district are in excess of those of the past five years: — Totals. 1903-4 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 777 1904-5 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 620 1905-6 616 1906-7 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 642 1907-8 1,071 The increases over 1906-7 for the last year are, — Auckland City ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 109 Suburban boroughs ... ... ... ... ... ... 66 Road districts ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 Country districts ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 208 Auckland Hospital, Mental Hospital, Gaol, and shipping ... ... 13 429 Compared with 1906-7, the notifications show, —- 1906-7. 1907-8. or Decease, Present Year. Enteric fever ... ... ... ... 153 353 +200 Scarlet fever ... ... ... ... 268 277 + 9 Diphtheria ... ... 103 165 + 62 Tuberculosis ... ... ... ... 96 198 +102 Blood-poisoning, including suspected plague... 22 76 + 54 Plague ... ... ... ... 2 +2 429 The increase in notifications, more especially with regard to tuberculosis, may be due in some measure to the administration with regard to notification having been vigorously carried out. There was a notable increase after a medical practitioner had been mulcted in a fine of £7, and costs.