FT.—3l

Influenza. —The outbreak of influenza in the Northern Hemisphere was watched with some anxiety, but did not reach our shores. Influenza in New Zealand in 1943 was at a low level and, indeed, the deaths attributed to this disease (65) were fewer and the death-rate from influenza (0-42 per 10,000) was lower than for some years. Lethargic Encephalitis.—Four cases of this disease were notified. Poliomyelitis,.—One hundred and twenty-seven cases were notified, in comparison with 30 in 1942. Fortunately, the condition did not become epidemic throughout the Dominion, but was mainly confined, except for a few cases, to the South Island. Enteric Fever.—There were 60 notifications (56 in 1942). The number of notifications each year remains fairly constant, the average for the past five years being 53. Cerebrospinal Fever.—Four hundred and ninety-eight cases of cerebrospinal fever (434 European, 64 Maoris) were notified in 1943, as compared with 932 (852 European, 80 Maoris) in 1942. Deaths numbered 72 European, 20 Maori. The rates for 1943 were: European 0'47, Maori 2-06 per 10,000 mean population. Whooping-cough and Measles.-—There were 17 deaths from whooping-cough and 7 from measles. Puerperal Sepsis.—Sepsis following childbirth was responsible for 9 deaths, a rate of 0-30 per 1,000 live births (0-47 in 1942). Sepsis following abortion, on the other hand, caused 15 deaths, a rate of 0-49 per 1,000 live births (0-80 in .1942). Tuberculosis.—Deaths from tuberculosis (all forms) were 572, as compared with 607 in 1942.

The following table shows the course of the disease for the past five years:—

The number of deaths and the death-rate from all forms of tuberculosis in 1943 were the lowest ever recorded in New Zealand. Venereal Diseases.—The following tables summarize the work of the venereal disease clinics in the four main centres for the past five years.

Number of Persons dealt with for the First Time at the Venereal Disease Clinic and found to be suffering from Syphilis

Number of Persons seen for the First Time at each Venereal Disease Clinic and found to be suffering from Gonorrhœa

2

Death-rate per 10,000. Year. Respiratory Non-respiratory Tuberculosis Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis. (all Forms). 1939 .. .. 3-39 0-59 3-98 1940 .. .. 3-24 0-64 3-88 1941 .. .. 3-19 0-69 3-88 1942 .. .. 3-18 0-75 3-93 1943 .. .. 3-09 0-63 3-72

«/ L'J. Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch. Dtinedin. Total. Total. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. 1939 .. ..59 43 18 25 19 11 12 5 108 84 192 1940 .. 63 37 77 58 12 8 22 8 174 111 285 1941 .. .. 102 57 96 63 29 17 33 6 260 143 403 1942 .. ..70 78 53 71 18 11 20 6 161 166 327 1943 .. ..48 95 20 41 17 14 29 3 114 153 267

Auckland. I Wellington. Chriatchuroh. Dunedin. Total. — r Total. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. M. F. . ; I 1939 .. .. 399 141 333 53 328 88 91 90 1,151 372 1,523 1940 .. .. 474 118 310 53 286 79 78 89 1,148 339 1,487 1941 .. .. 410 183 373 42 271 72 81 79 1,135 376 1,511 1942 .. .. 312 286 236 63 181 69 75 73 804 491 1,295 1943 , J 265 441 138 89 122 92 51 15 576 637 1,213