H— 31

82

Number of Deaths from all Causes in the Various Centres during this and previous Years.

Deaths from the More Important Diseases during this and previous Years.

It will be observed that there is a discrepancy between the number of cases of tuberculosis notified and the deaths that have occurred from that complaint, both this year and last. The discrepancy is both real and apparent —real, as some cases are only seen when the disease has advanced and the practitioner takes it for granted that the patient has been under previous treatment, and the case has already been notified; apparent, because some of the cases come to Hawke's Bay in the last stage which have been under treatment elsewhere, and the cases have been already notified. Also, as cases of consumption linger on, some die whose cases have been notified in previous years. At the same time I am of opinion that the same care in notifying cases of tuberculosis is not exercised as in the acute infectious diseases. The death-rate from the other important diseases remains fairly even. There is a large increase in the number of deaths from all causes, this being most marked in Napier and Gisborne. At first sight this appears to be disquieting, but when looked into it is seen that there is no cause for dissatisfaction. There have been a number of deaths from Bright's disease, old age, appoplexy, and other causes that do not reflect on the sanitary condition or general healthiness of the district, This especially applies to Napier, where deaths from all causes number 184, against 146 for last year, at which figure it has remained almost stationary for the last six years. The number of deaths from, tuberculosis remains fairly stationary, but it is liable to fluctuate in accordance with the number of patients suffering from this complaint who have come to these parts in hope of deriving benefit in this incomparable climate. The Sanitary Condition of various Centres. Napier. " Happy is the country that has no history," and happy is the town that calls for few comments from its Medical Officer of Health. I am glad to be able to report that the perambulations of the nightcart through the streets of this clean and otherwise well-ordered borough have become so restricted as to be scarcely in evidence. In this connection Mr. Archer, Overseer and Sanitary Surveyor to the borough, in reply to my inquiries, informs me that "there are now only fifteen houses to connect with'the sewer. Nine are so situated that they cannot connect until the sewer is extended ; the others have been called on to drain into the sewer." A proposition is on the tapis, and a loan of £6,000 has been sanctioned by the ratepayers for the purpose of providing baths of all descriptions on the sea front of Napier. This will add to the many attractions in the town, and both directly and indirectly make for sanitation—directly as the overflow of the baths will be used for flushing'the sewers. Every engineer who has reported on our drainage scheme has emphasized the necessity of flushing. Theswamp is now completely reclaimed, and is being surveyed and cut up into building-sites, which will be offered for sale during the present month. The area will be provided with good lungs in the shape of a park of 20 acres in extent, which has been secured by the Borough Council, and' another of 10 acres which has been secured by the Caledonian Society as a sports-ground! The building-sites available on this reclaimed area will do much to relieve the congestion that is rapidly becoming acute in Scinde Island, The sewer-outfall still remains as before, but its

Year. I Napier. Hastings. Dannevirke. Woodville. Wairoa. Gisborne. Remainder of District. Whole District. 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 153 159 140 150 145 184 56 56 (51 57 55 51 31 :w 3] II 63 53 17 23 15 15 11 16 9 * * 16 25 28 96 91 115 106 109 146 90 67 70 84 54 47 452 414 432 469 463 535 * Not mention! id.

Year. Enteric. Diphtheria. i Cancer. 3 -' Tuberculosis. __; * Scarlatina. Erysipelas and Bloodpoisoning. Total. .903.. 904.. 905.. 906.. 907.. 908.. 5 4 2 5 3 4 2 2 5 4 17 31 26 22 45 32 33 41 56 32 52 59 * * * 6 5 3 5 i 6 63 83 87 66 104 108 * 3 3 * Not Lentioned.