121

H.—3l

Class I. — Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases. Order I. — Miasmatic Diseases. Districts and|Diseases. Number of Cases. Wellington, Hawke's Bay, East Coast, and South Island Districts-Chicken-pox ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Measles ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 Influenza ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 319 Whooping-cough ... ... ... ... ... ... 61 Mumps ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Diphtheria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Typhoid fever ... ... ... ... ... ... 23 417 Auckland District... ... ... ... ... ... ... 169 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 586 Miasmatic diseases contributed 13782 per cent, of the total cases seen. Of the 417 cases seen in all the districts but the Auckland District, 319 were influenza, 61 whooping-cough, 23 typhoid fever, 10 measles, 2 mumps, 1 diphtheria, and 1 chicken-pox. Influenza was by far the most prevalent. In the Taranaki and Wanganui districts it took on a most virulent type, which in many cases ended in pneumonia. It was especially severe amongst the very old. Out of sixty deaths which came under my special notice the average age was forty-six years. Whooping-cough was more prevalent in the Hawera district than anywhere else during the past year. Many more deaths would have occurred if it were not for the appointment of the two medical men for the district. Enteric fever, I am glad to state, is not as prevalent as formerly. This may be attributed to the improved sanitary condition of the Maori kaingas in general. I am also pleased to state that measles is not as fatal a disease as in past years. No doubt the lectures on hygiene and the care of the sick are bearing fruit. Order 2. — Diarrhceal Diseases. Districts and Diseases. Number of Cases. Wellington, Hawke's Bay, East Coast, and South Island Districts— Diarrhoea ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 219 Dysentery ... ... ... ... ... • ... ... 5 224 Auckland District ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 131 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 355 Diarrhoeal diseases formed 8349 per cent, of the total cases seen. Diarrhoea generally occurs in the early spring, w 7 hen food is scarce and sometimes at huis, owing to polluted water-supplies. The eating of bad fish and rotten corn is also conducive to the outbreaks of diarrhceal diseases. The eating of putrid foods is, however, becoming less and less common. When once lecturing on this subject a Maori laughingly told me of an invitation he once had from his pakeha neighbour to supper. He said he could stand rotten corn and rotten potatoes, but he drew the line at live cheese and rotten pheasants. Order B. — Malarial Diseases. Districtsjand Diseases. Number of Cases. Wellington, Hawke's Bay, East Coast, and South Island Districts— Ague(?) ••• . -.; 1 One case is reported. This must be a case of a Maori who had been in malarial countries. Order £. — Venereal Diseases. Districts and Diseases. Number of Cases. Wellington, Hawke's Bay, East Coast, and South Island Districts— Gonorrhoea, stricture of uretha... ... ... ... ... 16 Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... 26 While 0"611 per cent, seems a small percentage, yet I am certain it is more prevalent than we may imagine. Persons suffering from these loathsome diseases are always diffident in consulting a medical practitioner. The Maoris have found several remedies in herbs and tree-bark decoctions, which they use freely, resulting in the small percentage seen. Venereal disease is still a curse in such districts as the gumfields of the north and in some pas near the towns. It has been the cause of stillborn infants, sterility, and other complaints. Order s. — Septic Diseases. Districts and Diseases. Number of Cases. Wellington, Hawke's Bay, East Coast, and South Island Districts — Erysipelas ... ... •■■ ••■ ■-■ •■• 2 Puerperal septicaemia ... ... . ... .. 1 Total ... ... ... ... 3